THE TITANIC – 100 YEARS LATER
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanThere is a cloud of mystery and intrigue that surround the maiden and final journey of the Titanic bound from England to New York City. This Sunday, April 15th, will mark the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the doomed ship.
But ironically enough, it has been a revival of sorts recently with the release of new apps, books, collectibles, DVD’s, films, magazines, maps, newspaper reprints, trinkets, video games and mini-series including the History Channel’s, “Titanic at 100: Mystery Solved”.
Perhaps one of the largest restorations is the re-release of the famed James Cameron movie “The Titanic” in 3-D which became one of the most romantic epics of all times starring the beautiful Kate Winslet and the debonair Leo DiCaprio. It is one of those films that you can watch over and over again.
The sinking of the Titanic made its mark by becoming the first international tragedy covered worldwide by the media. The History Channel aired a special about the ship in 2006 which became the 2nd highest-rated show of that year for people within the age group of 25-54.
In Mystic, Connecticut, the ocean liner has come back to life at the Mystic Aquarium. The very first explorer who viewed the wreck assisted in the recreation of the new exhibit so it will feel even more authentic. To be viewed are replicas of artifacts from the ship and it would not be complete without the iceberg.
On that frightful day in 1912, approximately 1514 people died. It was the largest and most luxurious ocean liner of its kind when it was first built and its passengers were some of the wealthiest individuals in the world. Although the ship had just about everything that you could ever desire to cater to passengers while on vacation, the one crucial thing that was missing was enough lifeboats to accommodate all those aboard should disaster sadly overtake the Titanic. Once the iceberg was hit, it only took two hours for the Titanic to quickly sink below the water level.
The wreck of the Titanic remains on the seabed and is gradually disintegrating at a depth of 12,415 feet.
Many companies are thinking of unique ways to commemorate the event. A Brooklyn restaurant is offering a recreation of a 10-course meal served to the first class passengers that dreadful evening. There is also a 12-night memorial cruise underway that is retracing the same route as was taken in 1912 with the same number of passengers. Some of the relatives of the more than 1500 people who died are on board and many wore costumes of that period. They will even visit the location where the original ship sank.
The Titanic continues to be a topic of interest and questions are periodically raised as to the series of events that took place leading up to the collision into the iceberg. Although the ship sits on the ocean floor shrouded in darkness, it still lives fresh in our memories year after year.
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