“Titanic Museum Exhibit Offers Guests the Chance to Feel the Water Temperature on the Evening of the Disaster”
Despite the fact that over a hundred years have gone by since the Titanic tragedy, its impact continues to resonate with new generations discovering its story. When the film Titanic premiered in 1997, audiences witnessed the enormity of the disaster depicted on screen; they watched as the largest passenger vessel of its time sank below the waves while individuals struggled for survival. Today, a museum exhibit presents a fresh perspective by allowing guests to experience firsthand the chilling temperature of the water on that fateful night.
The Titanic, which met its demise in the early hours of April 15, 1912, carried over 2,224 passengers and crew members, nearly 1,500 of whom perished. Among the 700 survivors, it is estimated that as many as 81 were rescued from the icy waters. In addition to injuries from the disaster, the frigid temperatures of the North Atlantic led to many succumbing to hypothermia. The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee reports that the water temperature was 28°F—slightly below freezing, yet liquid due to high salt concentrations.
To demonstrate this reality, the Titanic Museum has created an exhibit where visitors can immerse their hands in a container of 28ºF water. Numerous video recordings show guests attempting to endure the freezing temperature but surrendering after only a few seconds. Those who managed to last a bit longer described a painful burning sensation in their hands.
“Hypothermia constitutes a medical emergency when your body loses heat quicker than it can generate it. As body temperature decreases, vital functions of the heart, brain, and internal organs begin to fail. Unless urgent resuscitation and rapid rewarming are administered, survival becomes impossible,” stated Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician, in an interview with CBS News. At 30 degrees below zero, hypothermia can manifest in approximately 10 minutes.
The Titanic Museum also offers a variety of other engaging experiences related to the sinking of the Titanic, such as the chance to board a lifeboat and view original ship artifacts. For further details and to purchase tickets, visit the Titanic Museum’s official website.