The tragic incident of the Titanic sinking has become one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history and caused drastic changes in sea travel. Southampton’s involvement in the story of the Titanic is well known, being the port at which the ship departed on its tragic maiden voyage across the Atlantic. An exhibition at Seacity Museum in the centre of the city – Southampton’s Titanic Story – enlightened me to the extensive role the town played in launching the ship, the number of locals who worked and perished onboard the vessel and the lasting impact it has had on the town.
As you enter the exhibition, your attention is turned immediately to a harrowing detail: a wall revealing the names of the Southampton residents lost at sea, truly emphasising the devastating effect of the sinking. The sheer number of local deaths underlines the importance of the exhibition in remembering its impact specifically on this town. Even Captain Edward Smith was linked with town, owning a house in the local area. The initial exhibits and artefacts attempt to recreate the atmosphere and sights of Southampton as they would have been in 1912, when it was a bustling port. I enjoy the effect when exhibitions try to recreate the atmosphere of the past, as I think it makes it easier to connect with the historical information.
In one of the main room’s a showcase of various items related to the Titanic is very impressive, ranging from original White Star Line memorabilia to pocket watches and tickets from passengers. There are also original Titanic advertisements and calls for workers. The exhibits continue onto the ship, including a furniture feature from the grand staircase Olympic, which is identical to the one on the Titanic.There are also recreations of typical second class cabins. The exhibition then moves in the direction of the role of crew members with an engine room; an interactive section which helped me understand the difficulty required to keep the ship running. It then wraps itself up through understanding the consequences of the disaster with a focus on how it was handled in the news, the legal issues and memorials which were created.
I thought the primary strengths of the exhibition were the level of interaction with visitors. The use of voices of people alive to see the launch and ramifications of the sinking of the ship was interesting. In the main sections, I found the use of flaps to question and then reveal artefacts to be very effective in revealing some of the more memorable facts about the ship. I thought the engine room game was a genius idea especially for younger visitors who might lose their focus and illustrated the amount of effort which crew members required to keep the ship running. The telegraphy machine was also enjoyable and I found that I was rather good at transmitting messages. The amount of original artefacts on display really surprised me and I would definitely recommend this exhibition to any Titanic enthusiasts as it has a lot to offer.
My constructive criticisms of the exhibition were mostly personal experiences. Sadly the simulator to steer the ship was broken and I also felt that the part of the exhibition which went through the courtroom was a bit odd; I was more focused on the court room rather than the exhibits displayed around me. I felt that more should have been made of its impact on Southampton today, as aside from a section of maritime improvements, little information was given about the current state of the docks in the city. Apart from those small criticisms there are very few negatives about the exhibition.
The exhibition finishes by provoking visitors to reflect upon the improvements to maritime safety which were directly influenced by the Titanic disaster and a section about memorials to those that perished. The requirements on lifeboats for all passengers was a positive change following the sinking. The ending of the exhibition has a timeline and display of the current rescue features on ships, including modern lifeboats and ice viewing aircraft which are used today. This segment reinforces the famous idea that ‘history repeats itself’ and therefore it is fundamentally important we learn from our mistakes and prevent another maritime tragedy.
Southampton’s Titanic Story is a tribute to the tragic events of the Titanic which changed sea travel forever but specifically places a spotlight on its consequences for this maritime town. Through displaying items from the ship, and interactive sections such as the telegraphy and an engine room where visitors can engage, it helps you place yourself in the shoes of a crew member. That ability to stir empathy and historical imagination is the real reason why this exhibition was incredibly impressive, and has such an impact. It tells the story of Southampton’s role in a tragedy that has never been forgotten. immortalised in books, films and exhibitions, like this one, no one will forget the events of that fateful night on the 14th April 1912.
All photographs taken by the author.
Anton's History Blog 
Great post and a really good summary of the exhibition. Most of us know the story of the titanic sinking but are unaware of the significant role that Southampton played in the ship’s history.
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