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Gilbert Lodge   Since 2004

                 Gilbert Lodge Blog
         The life and times of Mark and Paula Persons

September 7, 2009:  Mark and Paula checked out the Titanic exhibits at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.  There was a 45 minute Omnitheatre film followed a self-guided tour of the exhibits, which in our case took 2-3/4 hours.  It was worth every moment learning about that tragic day in 1912 when the "unsinkable" Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg while attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean.        

Actors portraying Captain Smith and a porter gave historical information about the voyage.  They said the Titanic, contrary to what many people believe, was not out to set a speed record across the Atlantic.  A competitor's ship was already acknowledged as being faster.  The lookouts did not have binoculars because they were inadvertently not furnished to the ship before it sailed.  The water was calm the night of the sinking so there were no waves breaking on the iceberg, which might have otherwise been seen.

At the end of the Titanic exhibit, the fact board showed that Annie and Jacob died in the sinking.  Of the 2200 passengers and crew, about 1500 died and 700 lived through the ordeal.

Quote of the day:  "It is a sobering experience to see hear the story of the Titanic."   Mark