The first week of March has arrived and we are in store for more excitement then this maid can stand. First of all, I am composing this blog from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! On a field trip from the Mother ship to check in on our Sister’s progress. Out of the ballpark fabulous. All systems go for sensational opening on April 8^th. The changes in this new Titanic Museum are stunning. Of course you cannot change the size of the Grand Staircase, or the size of the Third Class Corridors and Cabin, but I really have to say that these additions are World Class. Triple tiered waterfall in front, interactive elements that will send students reeling, efficient admissions lobby, not only a First Class Dining Salon, but a “parlour suite” dedicated to the First Class passengers Isidor and Ida Strauss. What a locations, Branson, and Pigeon Forge are in for a treat. I know, I know I’m partial, but I also can tell you I have seen a lot in my many years and these museums take the Grand Prize!!!

Now a salute to Forsyth Elementary and Mrs. Woods second graders. They took my heart away last week. Last December I and Kristina made a call to the school for Teacher of the Month, a program that The Titanic Museum Attraction is proud to be involved in with Janet Ellis of KRZK. Each month a teacher is honored by the radio station and businesses in the area, we bring pizza, ice cream, goodies for both teachers and students to their schools. I simply adore doing this, as does First Class Maid Jamie and Officer Kristina. Well, to thank me for appearing at their school, the little darlings constructed a feather duster out of colorful papers cut to look like feathers. Each child, including Mrs. Woods signed a feather; the feathers were glued on a flat stick with the name of the school and date printed on the side. I was so moved, I really was. This is what makes my job joyous! Thank You Second Graders!

First Class Maid Jaynee with Mrs. Woods Class

Molly and Carter arrive on March 19, the kennel looks outstanding and we at the ship are nervously awaiting our new and beloved mascots. And when driving by our museum in Branson you might notice, The Irish Have Arrived! We are donning the Irish flags in the parking lot and we will be honoring the Irish passengers and crewmembers that were aboard the great ship almost 98 years ago. My lands the Irish built this palace in Belfast, Ireland, its’s the least we can do, and I look forward every year to this tribute month. I will be portraying Miss Violet Constance Jessop, poplar stewardess on board the R.M.S Titanic; I will fill you in more on her next week.

Have got to run, I’m needed for more adventures here in Pigeon Forge, full report next week. Miss you Branson, but excited to be here in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Till next time, First Class Maid Jaynee
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The last week of February has arrived and with it a wrap up of Sweetheart Month at The Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri. Cupid has packed up his arrows to await another year to appear. With the end of Sweetheart Month we at the museum bid farewell to our beautiful “Rose”. Oh she will be back for special events and most importantly she will be traveling to our sister ship in Tennessee to salute Titanic Pigeon Forge, TN. launch on Thursday, April 8th of this year.

Still to see her leave is bittersweet.

Titanic's Rose

No other heroine has quite captured the imagination of so many generations then that of the character, “Rose Dewitt Bukater”. Although fictional, her beauty, magnetism, bravery, and love for her amazing “Jack” on board The Titanic will go down in celluloid history. Every little girl, and for that matter, woman, that watches James Cameron’s movie, TITANIC, sees herself as this amazing character. Every young man envisions having a lady love so lovely and so devoted. The fictional story devised by James Cameron is brilliant how it interweaves into the factual tale of the Titanic. On the screen Kate Winslet played the role of “Rose” with such a natural appeal that she became the standard of young, modern, womanhood, despite the movie telling the story of something that occurred in 1912.

In 2006, at The Titanic Museum in Branson, a young woman came to us to apply for a job as one of our costumed maids. Her name, Randi, but she was, “Rose”. The moment I saw her I knew we had our “Rose”. We had contemplated the idea of having a “Rose”. And here she was. Weeks went by, Randi/Rose proved to be an invaluable character actor, but as destiny would have it, when we were ready so was she and she became our “Titanic Rose”. Clad in an exact replica of Rose’s boarding suit, the white suit with purple pinstripes, with the magnificent purple picture frame hat, with white kid gloves, white kid ankle boots, and matching purple parasol, she was it. Pearly white complexion with thick auburn hair, she simply is perfect.

Reactions from our guests are always dismayed at the resemblance to the screen character, children stand in awe, it’s not every day they see such beauty up close, and our “Rose” performs her role as if born to do this.

Randi/Rose has a family and family duties called her away from Branson, but you can always count on her to come for special duties and soon she will be traveling to Pigeon Forge as well. Sweetheart Month would not be so “sweet” without her presence.

Some Titanic purists have scoffed at the inclusion of James Cameron’s movie. Accept for the fictional story of Jack and Rose and the characters immediately involved with these characters, James Cameron depicted the history of Titanic closer to detail and accuracy then it had ever been done before. Still there are the naysayers. So I would like to share a situation that occurred last weekend, proving that the addition of drama and art is not a bad thing.

One of our maids in the gift shop was helping a woman when the woman asked if she could share something that had just occurred to her. Maid Myka who was helping her encouraged her to share. This lady commented on how she loved the museum, was in love with the history of Titanic and absolutely in love with the movie, “ TITANIC”. She especially adored the character of “Rose”. She shared that her life had been full of problems for many years and she wished that she had the strength of character that Rose had. She was extremely down, blue, horribly sad of late. So when she had the opportunity to come to the Titanic Museum she couldn’t resist. Upon leaving the Grande Staircase this lady happened to look up and saw our beautiful “Rose” glancing down at her from the balcony. “Rose” without a word gave her a sweet little wave, and because of her emotional state, just this small act of kindness moved her greatly. Teary eyed and obviously moved, she wanted to thank the museum and “Rose”, for salving her sad life. She felt renewed and hopeful, all because of, “Rose”. That means a lot to all of us and that’s the kind of power that is generated in this Titanic Museum in Branson. You just never know.

I know I will miss our “Rose”, but she will be back soon to greet you.

First Class Maid, Jaynee
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On February 14th, 1912, John Gill, age 24, a Second Class passenger aboard the R.M.S. Titanic, wed his sweetheart Sarah Hodder.  John had been living in Wisconsin for some years and missing his native country England, corresponded with friends and family, and in doing so fell hopelessly in love with Sarah, his many romantic postcards to his lady love reflect his feelings.  He moved back to Clevedon, England, acquired a respectable position as the Reverend Braithwaite’s chauffer.  Then on Valentine’s Day, he fulfilled his dream of love by marrying his precious Sarah.

One of many displays at Titanic Museum Attraction

John always one to plan ahead had realized that although deeply devoted to his Mother England, opportunities were plenty in the U.S. and decided to travel back to his adopted country to establish a new homestead for his new bride and himself.  It was hard for him to leave Sarah; after all they were newly married, but wanting the best for their future, girded himself for the long separation and boarded The Titanic in Southampton on the morning of April 10th, 1912.  He had arrived too late to board the beautiful ship the night before and was forced to spend the night in the back of a taxi carriage, in fact John woke with a start that morning having slept so heavily the night before he nearly missed boarding the doomed liner.  But he did not “miss the boat”, he indeed boarded and with it he mailed his last bit of correspondence to Sarah, commented he had never seen such a “big ship”.

On the two month anniversary of the newlywed’s marriage, John Gill went down with the ship.  On April 23rd his body was recovered by the Makay-Bennett, his body was numbered 155 and he was buried at sea on April 24th.

Correspondence between White Star Line and Sarah Gill was perceived as perfunctory at best.  Personal effects were returned, a gold watch and chain, a small pocket comb and knife, $43.00 and change, his keys and gold ring, his wedding ring.  Sarah desperately wanted John shipped home to her, but alas The Makay-Bennett had already assigned his body to the deep, and she would have been unable to wire the twenty pounds required for shipment or burial in Halifax.

Cold, a cold death, a cold burial, and a cold response to a young widow who never remarried.  Because of this traumatic turn in events, Sarah refused or could not speak for twenty years after the incident, only after tumbling down a flight of stairs did Sarah emerge from her long silence.

The John Gill display at the Titanic Museum is one of our strongest groupings of artifacts, and it’s also one of our saddest stories.  With so many heartbreaking stories, John and Sarah’s story has always been one that stands out in my mind.  Especially this past Valentine’s Day at the museum.

We had a number of wedding vow renewals and two of these couples were actually celebrating their wedding anniversary with a vow renewal on The Grande Staircase.  Many couples do decide to wed on this well known holiday celebrating romance, it’s not uncommon, and in fact it’s really quite charming.  What is unusual is this last Sunday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day, one of our couples not only were celebrating their anniversary by renewing their wedding vows on The Grande Staircase, their names were John and Sarah.

Happy Anniversary, First Class Maid Jaynee
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The Titanic has been described as “The Ship of Dreams”, “A Floating Palace”, “The Eighth Wonder of the World”, but this week she’s, “The Love Boat”. That’s right Valentine’s Day has arrived and the place to celebrate is at The Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri.

This whole week will be filled with testimonies of love, flirtations, and romance culminating with February 14th on Sunday. We have vow renewals scheduled, proposals of marriage planned, and all things cupid related will be spotlighted this week.

Renew your vows on the Grand Staircase

Anything can happen at the Titanic Museum, we’ve seen it occur right on our Grande Staircase. A tale of love gone wrong and then made right took place at the museum the first year we were open. Maid Jamie recalls one couple she greeted at the staircase one day and as she often does she requests that the lady take the gentleman’s arm when ascending the stairs. When met with this request, the couple looked at each other with an obvious distaste, but not wanting to seem rude they complied with Maid Jamie’s request. The lady took his arm and off they went. About an hour later the same couple descended the stairs, the temps had gone from cool to simmer and not only did she have her gentleman’s arm they were hand in hand and obviously smitten. Well, friends that is not the end of the story. The next day Maid Jamie was at her post at the Grande Staircase when in walked the lady from the day before, she asked if she could speak to Maid Jamie and of course Jamie was all ears. She told Maid Jamie that her and her husband had been on the brink of divorce when they decided to cruise through Branson and stop at the Titanic Museum, they had not been speaking, let alone touching, so when Maid Jamie had asked them to climb the Grande Staircase arm and arm, that had been the first physical contact they had had in months. That evening after the tour they went out to dinner, had a long soulful talk, realizing just how much they loved each other were going to give the marriage another go. Well Maid Jamie was stunned, as we all were when hearing of the story. So you see, anything can happen and does daily at The Titanic Museum.

Valentine’s Day is a delightful time of year for children who enjoy their puppy love flirtations, the love of their little friends, and of course their family, young love is always exciting and thrilling, in the minds of the newly fractured no other love can possibly be as rare or perfect, then of course love becomes more sophisticated, with candlelight dinners and diamonds and pearls, then mature love, if achieved is the most perfect of all, you have stood the test of time and no one can break the tie that binds. For a moment I want you to think of all the couples, like those I have just described that were sailing on board the R.M.S. Titanic.

Newlywed couples, like the Astors with a baby on the way, solid married couples like the Goldsmiths traveling in Third Class, the Laroche couple, Joseph and Juliette, with their two little girls, so in love they were moving back to Haiti so they could live their lives together without prejudice and persecution. Think of the Valentines hearts that were forever broken because of the “Titanic” tragedy. In memory of them all I would like to end with a poem written by my Valentine and eternal love.

Love of my Life
By Tom Peters

Love of my Life, I miss you
Oh, What I’d give, If I could just kiss you
I’ll try so hard to wear a smile again
But where will I find
Another Best Friend

I hear your voice
Everywhere I turn
But there’s only me
And tear drops that burn

Saying goodbye to you
Tore my hear in two
For the Love of my Life is gone
And the Love of my Life is gone

I haven’t gone anywhere, I’ll be right here to greet you,
First Class Maid Jaynee
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Wedding vow renewals on the Titanic

At the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri of course.  February heralds the start of romance, devotion, passion, and L-O-V-E at our museum.  Throughout the year the Titanic museum is a perfect setting for weddings, vow renewals at the Grande Staircase, and romance.  In 1912 when the Titanic set sail out of Southampton, England 12 newlywed couples thought so too.  Ocean liners and cruise ships are always perfect for anniversary celebrations and honeymooners, something about floating around the ocean seems to spark even the most frigid relationships, unless of course the ship should happen to crash into a mountain of ice, then I guess the phrase, “Love on the rocks,” takes on a significant new meaning.

Nevertheless, we at the museum are proud to boast that we have been the staging place for countless weddings and hundreds of vow renewals since our opening in 2006.  Check out our web page for wedding information, our own beautiful First Class Maid Sarah and newlywed husband John are pictured in their nuptial costumes, looking glamorous so much in love.

February, like a tulip ready to bloom, promises to be just as romantic as previous Valentine months at the museum.  Last year on Valentine’s Day we had over 50 vow renewals on the Grande Staircase.  So simple to arrange, interested parties should call the museum, make a reservation, many packages are available from the simplest of exchanges to elaborate packages that include hotel accommodations, a cake, and even a beautiful “Heart of the Ocean” necklace.  It’s up to you!  You’re the Captain, and by the way all of the vow renewals are conducted by our very own Captain David, he is ordained to perform these ceremonies and every vow renewal comes with a vow renewal certificate, legal and binding…this is serious business.  Serious “love” business.

Titanic's Rose featured during Sweetheart Month

Throughout this romance month we will be honored to have our long stemmed, beautiful “Rose” returning to hostess this Sweetheart Months festivities at the museum.  One glance at this just plain pretty lady and you’ll believe you’re starring in the blockbuster, James Cameron film, The Titanic.  Yes, she favors Kate Winslet’s Rose that much….I think she’s even lovelier.  Also this month I will be bringing you touching romantic tales of undying love on the R.M.S. Titanic and romantic reports of love at the Titanic Museum.  To start I’d like to share a contribution from Titanic’s favorite visiting author, Bruce Caplan.  He sent this testament to love to the Titanic and I’d like to share it with all of you.  Enjoy.

A Valentine Message from the Titanic

By Bruce M. Caplan

Titanic was only a couple of days out of New York, when passengers felt the collision with a giant iceberg. It was 20 minutes to midnight on the 14th of April 1912 and many were fast asleep in their cabins.  For the first few minutes after the impact, those aware of the happening were excited and thrilled about the turn of events.  Most thought that they were on a craft that was unsinkable and the collision with the iceberg just added more excitement to the inaugural cruise.

As they gazed up at the clear moonless sky, a myriad of stars twinkled back at them.  Turning their eyes toward the ocean gave them more confidence.  The sea was as smooth as glass!

Captain Smith, Bruce Ismay and Thomas Andrews were soon aware that the Titanic had suffered a fatal blow.  The ship was doomed to be swallowed by the Ocean!  There were only 20 lifeboats on the Titanic—enough to save about half of the 2200 passengers.  Unfortunately the first boats were launched half empty!  Passengers could not believe that the new Empress of the Seas was in trouble.

Within a few score minutes the pride of the White Star Line began to rapidly sink.  Men, women, and children suddenly realized that to board a lifeboat was their only way to survive.

Ida Straus, the wife of Isidor Straus the owner of Macy’s watched the lifeboats depart.  She was 63 and had been married to her husband for over 40 years.  Standing by lifeboat #8, she was urged by the passengers to get in and save herself.  She refused to leave her husband’s side.

Survivors witnessed the Straus’s holding hands as the frigid Ocean devoured the last decks of the Titanic. Isidor and Ida’s eternal love will be forever remembered and cherished!

Thank you Bruce.  Please come and visit the museum this month, it promises to be a heartwarming experience and I’ll be right here to greet you.

First Class Maid, Jaynee

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There is no more melancholy a sight then the sight of a resort town during the “off” season.  Granted, overall Branson has a short one, but alas we still have one.  Despite the amazing success of our Titanic Ice Carving Competition, thousands came, it was a brilliant day, albeit a bit warm for ice perfection, but perfect for a day out of the house.  It’s still the middle of winter and Branson has yet not awakened from winter slumber.

If I care to channel my Bronte sisters all I need to do is walk down to the pier near my home by the lake.  I live in a lake resort and I believe the lake resorts are the most humbling this time of year.  Grey water reflecting grey skies, boarded up cabins, chalets, and club houses.  The pool so vibrant and gay in the summer, now tarped and faded.  What usually passes for eccentric and carefree during the warm weather months now seems worn and desperate.

At least in Branson there is the promise of new beginnings, merchants sandblasting their businesses, painting, repaving parking lots, but still they’re empty.  Empty marquees, or if not empty hollow advertisements promising a return, some in February, some in March, even Silver Dollar City looks eerily abandoned.  Red Roof Mall on some days reminds me of Chernobyl after the accident.  A Rod Serling episode, where are the people?

Sweetheart Month coming in February to Titanic!

But Hark!  The people are coming!  Officer Kristina and I have been making the rounds, questioning the ticket people and they are calling.  That’s right, reservations are being made.  The phone rooms are packed with employees taking orders, setting dates, making plans.  Only a few short weeks and we’ll all be in a whirl.  Thank God for Titanic, like a giant hive we stay open.  The city looks to the great ship for respites in the Branson Blues, the Ice Carving Competition for one.  Open all year, curious winter travelers have somewhere to go, and really there is no better place to go on a cold winter’s day then a museum.  Warm and cozy inside, one can lose themselves in another time and place, no crowds to jostle them, just display after remarkable display of Titanic stories and artifacts.  Yesterday in the museum, Maid Jamie remarked how one thrilled lady visitor was positively squealing with delight at the discoveries she made at each turn in the museum.  Somehow silly after the millions of visitors that have made their way through our museum, but we all doted on her and her family like she were the only one to ever come through the place.  Like Sally Field on accepting her Academy Award, “You like me, you really like me!”  She did, and we loved her, she brought spring back to our lonely hearts.

I sound a trifle melodramatic about all of this but after all tis the season for drama and gothic romance.  SPEAKING OF WHICH, just around the corner, Sweetheart Month in February.  All this gloom and doom is the perfect precursor to our most romantic time of the year.  Proposals and wedding renewals at the Grande Staircase throughout the year but especially in February!  More of that to come.

In the meantime, keep a stiff upper lip, spring is coming, and if you want to delight the Maids at Titanic, come to our museum in January and squeal a little.  It’s really the perfect time.

Till next time, First Class Maid Jaynee
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Artifacts that is.  The museum biz is like no other business I’ve ever been in.  It’s vitally important in order to have and maintain a viable museum that curators are constantly planning on changing up displays and artifacts.

This past week was a four day marathon of doing just that at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri.  One million dollars were spent on renovations, deep cleaning, painting, new carpet, building, and moving in new exciting Titanic displays and moving out, with the same care, older galleries for storage.

White glove care, attention to each detail, designers, curators, technicians, a Titanic team of genius workman and artisans.  It takes at least three to five hours for each new display case.  The contents of these cases valued in the millions of dollars…cold sweat time.  But it’s done congratulation to all that lent their expertise.  Ready for viewing, here are some of the new things you the guest will be able to experience.

Lady Duff Gordon - The Titanic Historical Socirty

Lady Duff Gordon, a favorite First Class Titanic passenger has a magnificent display in our First Class Dining Saloon.  Lady Duff Gordon was a world famous fashion designer; she was traveling on board Titanic with her husband Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and her entourage.  She had taken the fashion world by storm with her fashion forward thinking.  A darling of the royals she designed for the wealthiest and the most famous the world over with fashion salons in both Europe and the United States.  A pioneer she was the first to use models, first to do away with corsets, and first to introduce slits in skirts.  Her brand name used was simply, “Lucile”.  And anyone that was anybody had to own a “Lucile” gown.  In our First Class Dining Saloon we created from an original “Lucile” sketch, an amazing tea gown.  All natural fibers and materials that would have been used from the period were used to recreate this gown and in its World Exclusive Debut this gown will take your breath away.

In Third Class we have a tribute display to Third Officer Herbert J. Pitman.  A survivor of the Titanic disaster he had been off duty when the ship crashed into the iceberg and the noise woke him from his bunk.  He later described to the US Board of Inquiry, “I thought it seemed like the ship coming to anchor”, “the chain running over the windlass.”  I daresay Officer Pitman was in for a rude awakening.  In Officer Pitman’s display we have a never before seen photograph of this rakish officer along with his Masonic sash and his leather purse with Pitman’s embossed name, both traveled with him on board Titanic.  These items were discovered in his pine shipping trunk with two signal flags he used for semi fore duty aboard Titanic.  You can almost smell the brine of the sea when passing this brave sailor’s display.

After the Titanic sank debris from the great ship was strewn for miles and needed to be retrieved.  These were busy sea lanes and White Star Line was obligated to collect as much of the debris as possible, including the unfortunate passengers that had perished and been left drifting on the North Atlantic.  The recovery ships, Minia and the Mackay-Bennett were assigned to this grim task.  In our Interactive gallery you will see a display of various wood items that were fashioned out of some of the floating wood debris picked up by these ships….real Titanic wood.  A young seaman aboard the Minia writes to his Mother about the horrors of his assignment, and in the Discovery gallery haunting photographs of pitiful victims of the Titanic tragedy grace one display case.  Courtesy of the retriever crew of the Mackay-Bennett.

Joseph P. Laroche - The Titanic Historical Socirty

So much to see, but one more mention.  Joseph P. Laroche and his wife Juliette Laroche.  You will read their story and see their family photograph on display in the First Class Dining Saloon.  The Laroche’s were traveling Second Class on board Titanic and Joseph Laroche was the only black man on board the ship.  A native of Haiti, his Father, at one time the President of Haiti, Joseph Laroche was a learned man and had earned a P.H.D. Engineering degree in Paris.  He and his wife, an interracial union, which in 1912 raised many prejudices, decided to go home to his island country so that they could live in peace.  So he, Juliette, and their two daughters boarded Titanic in Cherbourg, France.  He and his family have earned their place in this museum and we display their story with honor.  Alongside their story is a map of Haiti so one may realize how close this island country is to the United States.  In this tragic time for Haiti, please send a prayer when visiting this important display.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as new elements to our already brimming museum.  So come back and see us or make it a point to visit the Titanic Museum Attraction for the first time.  I have worked there since the beginning in 2006 and I still get goose bumps when I peer into the Titanic lives and legacies on display here at the museum.

Always remember, I’ll be right here to greet you.

First Class Maid, Jaynee
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It’s that time of year.  Time to be bedazzled with Titanic’s fourth annual Ice Carving Competition coming up this Saturday, January 16th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  This year we expect to have over twenty professional competitors that will be judged by members of the National Ice Carving Association.  Cash prizes will be awarded as well as recognition and points earned toward Olympic qualification.

Titanic's Ice Sculpture Competition

This yearly competition takes place in the parking lot of the Titanic Museum Attraction and it’s always amazing how the museum turns into a winter wonderland with the most spectacular ice sculptures.  Winged horses, unicorns, giant angelfish, even a tiger shark, a mythological creature, half ferocious tiger in front, with a shark tail in back.  There of course are always tributes to Titanic with Captains at the helm, montages of sinking liners, icebergs, and anchors, all of these imaginings brought to life out of 250 pound blocks of ice.  And not just regular ice, special ice imported from a company in Oklahoma.  The quality of this ice is such that the clarity is more like crystal then simply frozen H2O.  The tools the artists use range from picks to chainsaws, tiny torches, chisels, sanders, and chippers.  But the outcome is always the same.  Art.  A fragile, inconceivable art form that’s life span is so short.  If we are lucky this year these sculptures will last awhile.  Long enough for guests to view the gallery of ice upon its completion.  After the competition viewers are invited to tour the parking area with their autos.  The sculptures will be lighted and displayed for as long as the weather allows.

This competition is free to the public but of course we hope that you stop into the museum.  Currently the museum is closed to the public for renovations, cleaning, and changing up artifacts.  Gearing up for the season ahead.  A monumental task to complete in four days but each year I’m stunned by how it all gets done and done so well.  Complements to all Titanic staff and managers that accomplish this yearly housekeeping.

The first year our Ice Carving Competition was held during one of the worst ice storms the Ozarks has ever experienced, the second year was so very cold that the ice sculptures stayed intact ever so long, last year the public turned out in the thousands and the weather was beautiful, but not so beautiful for ice sculptures, the judges had to judge quickly, but how exciting to watch these artists work so quickly to complete their melting masterpieces.  This year the competitors are ready, our competition is gaining world attention and the participants are fiercely competitive.  Can’t wait!

Come by on Saturday, January 16th, the museum will be sparkling, the ice sculptures will be sparkling, and I’ll be right here to greet you.

First Class Maid, Jaynee
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It’s frigid cold, its scary cold, it’s TITANIC COLD!  Snow and glittering temps are picture perfect over Christmas and New Year’s but come on people when the Holiday’s are past cold is just plain cold.

The Ozarks has been experiencing single digit temps as well as below zero plummets and there is more in store.

The night of April 14th 1912, passengers aboard Titanic experienced approximately 31degree air temperature and the water was 28 degrees.  One of the most fascinating displays at The Titanic Museum Attraction is our Hypothermia water display.  Guests seem to talk about it the most, in particular our young visitors.  Plunging their digits into the ice cold well clearly demonstrates, even in a small way, what the passengers on board Titanic experienced that awful night.  Our guests at the Museum are horrified at what these passengers and crew members went through and I always am gratified at the heartfelt sympathy that emanates from our guests as they think about the horrors of that evening.

Cold weather at the Titanic

Hypothermia was the cause of death for most of the people on board Titanic.  It was not death by drowning the crude life vests for the most part were doing their job.  And even for many of the survivors, they did not escape the frigid grips of the cold.  Air temps were below freezing and many of the lifeboats had been damaged in their lowering and were taking on water causing many to sit for up to hours ankle and knee deep in leaky lifeboats.  Many of the passengers, particularly male passengers and crew members had to keep themselves afloat by way of floating debris until they could be rescued by a returning lifeboat or actually swimming to lifeboats.  Can you imagine what super human strength it took to accomplish that feat!  Astonishing.

Out of the 2,208 passengers and crew members 705 survived and only four survived having been in the water until the Carpathia picked them up some six hours after the sinking.  This is a scientific wonder.  For most people that would have been in that 28 degree water, hypothermia would have claimed them between 15 and 35 minutes.  So to grasp the resilience of these survivors that had to remain in the water for hours is beyond the scope of imagination.

One survivor in particular has been featured in every film depicting the Titanic disaster.  This was the chief baker, Charles Joughin.  As the great ship Titanic takes her final plunge into the Atlantic, Charles Joughin is seen in most films riding the stern into the water.  According to his account and others he stepped off into the water as the ship sank beneath him and he did not even get his hair wet.  A huge man by all reports, he had also consumed a great deal of alcohol and carried with him a flask in his breast pocket to libate his heroic efforts as he tread water holding on to overturned collapsible lifeboat B.  Officer Lightoller was reported telling Joughin that the collapsible was far too flimsy and loaded with struggling survivors for him to try to climb on to it.  Joughin bravely nodded and would now and then take a few sips from his flask.  Unbelievable, he lived to be 78 and only suffered minor frostbite on his extremities.

So when we complain of the cold, all I have to do is to think of those incredible people that had to suffer that freezing night in April of 1912.

We are open the rest of this week with amazing stories to share, the heat is on, so come in out of the cold and enjoy a perfect day in the museum.  We will be closed for cleaning, painting, and installing new artifacts from January 11th through the 14th.  We maids will be busy getting ready for a new year and of course the Ice Carving Competition on Saturday, January 16th.  We want it cold for that event.  More to come on Ice Carving in next week’s blog.

Please stay warm and safe, First Class Maid Jaynee

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Happy New Year from Titanic

It’s time once again to bid farewell to 2009 and gear up for 2010.  It’s also time to reflect on what went on this past year.  Well for one thing the United States has a new President in President Barack Obama.  We are still involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.   We have lost many television, music, and movie celebrities like Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon, to name a few.  We at The Titanic Museum Attraction have lost many of our people as well, most notably, Titanic’s only living survivor died this year, Millvina Dean.   She was nine weeks old on board Titanic and she passed 97 years later in her town of Southampton, England on May 31st.

The debates on a revised Government Health plan are in full swing and The Olympic Games will be held in London, England in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016!  The Titanic Museum Attraction is in the midst of amazing preparations for the opening of our sister Titanic ship in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in April of 2010.

Yes, lots of things happened in 2009, good and bad like all years, here are some delightful future events to look forward to.

We say goodbye to our Titanic Movie Gallery on January 1st.  So if you’ve not seen Rose’s red dress and other Titanic Movie Memorabilia please hurry in to get a glimpse of movie history.

Coming up in just a few weeks will be the fourth annual Ice Carving Competition on January 16th.  Hope it’s colder than last year’s competition; we want the ice sculptures to hang around a while for your viewing.

Of course as in years past the month of March is dedicated to the Irish passengers that were on board Titanic as well as the Irish who built the ship.  We intend to make it an even larger celebration then even last year so get ready to jig the day away with this Celebration to the Irish.

Titanic Princess Tea Party

Our most popular event will be returning, PRINCESS TEA PARTIES!  April 24th and 25th.  Always a favorite and filled with lovely Princesses eagerly awaiting the tutoring of our lovely First Class Maid Jamie to introduce these young ladies to the ways of polite society.  And let’s not forget we have the British Motor Club coming on April 10th and 11th  to display their marvels of British engineering, it was such a hit last year I’m glad they’re coming back.

June we have The Fathers Day Boat Show again on June 19th and 20th.  I keep promising myself a little motor boat each year, perhaps this is the year.

Then we will be back in the Autumn with the Wood Carving Event held in October, along with The Second Annual Masquerade Dinner Party, I’m glad we’re bringing that event back this year, a smashing good time was had by all this last year.  Which will bring us back into the Christmas Festivities, Reindeer, Father Christmas and another year will have passed and another Auld Lang Syne will be sung.

The song, “Auld Lang Syne”, used for centuries to ring in the New Year was a poem written by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns and set to the music of a Scottish folk song.  Used by Scots, adopted by Brits and passed throughout the world this plaintive, melancholy song is part of the DNA of New Years Eve.  I’m sure many of you will be serenading each other with this very ballad.  Thank you for making 2009 a memorable year for us all and I only wish all of you the happiest of  Happy New Years and, “I’ll be right there to greet you….in 2010.”

First Class Maid, Jaynee

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