The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is the exclusive and premiere exhibition destination of Titanic, that opened last week on May 27, 2017 and runs thru January 7, 2018. This is not a traveling exhibit, it is a special only to the Reagan Library and you cannot see it anywhere else as it combines artifacts found with the shipwreck as well as movie items from when they made the Titanic movie.
This brand-new 10,000 square foot exhibition, reunites hundreds of Titanic artifacts that have not been together since the ship's fateful night in 1912 with material and artifacts from the 1984-1985 discovery of the Titanic as well as with items from the 1997 movie, is a first-of-its-kind exhibition not seen anywhere else before. The exhibition was made possible through the generous support and assistance of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Cedar Bay Entertainment, parent company of The Titanic Museums of Pigeon Force, TN and Branson, MO, and Lightstorm Entertainment/20th Century Fox.
The Titanic was seen as an "unsinkable" ship. While she was a marvel of engineering with her water tight compartments and her double keel, she sank on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. Found in 1985 by Dr. Robert Ballard during a top secret mission on Cold War espionage while searching for the nuclear submarines USS Thresher and USS Scorpion, Titanic at the Reagan Library tells the complex story of this magnificent ship, the tragedy of her demise and her surprising discovery in the 1980s. Titanic at the Reagan Library honors the 1,500 souls who perished in that tragedy, along with the 267 brave American seamen who perished on the Thresher and Scorpion. Out of respect, none of the artifacts displayed in this exhibition were salvaged from the wreck itself - a sacred final resting place.
"When we found the Titanic we made a promise to never take anything, to never desecrate the site because to take something off the Titanic would be like going to Gettysburg with a shovel. You don't do that. And we felt it was a site that deserved respect and it remained that way for the rest of the expedition. For the rest of my life actually," said Dr. Robert Ballard. "And that is why this Titanic exhibit at the Reagan Library is so important. It tells the complete story of the Titanic without using any artifacts off the ocean floor. I recommend anyone who wants to learn more about this remarkable ship to come see this exhibit."
Found in 1985 during President Reagan's administration, the Titanic quickly became a dive site for many different companies and explorers trying to get a piece of her history. To protect the historic site and preserve it for generations, President Reagan issued the 1986 RMS Titanic Memorial Act to designate the wreck as an international maritime memorial. "To commemorate President Reagan's Titanic Act, and to honor the 1500 souls who perished at sea, it was critical that the Reagan Library host an exhibit devoid of artifacts plundered from the ocean floor," said John Heubusch, executive director for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
"Every artifact in our Titanic Exhibit was either retrieved at the time of the sinking, was recovered from the top of the ocean during the recovery mission, or was carried off the ship by survivors." "This is not a traveling exhibition. To see the story of the Titanic told in such a unique way, visitors must come to the Reagan Library. Whether you are a fan of genuine history or larger-than-life Hollywood, this is truly an once-in-a-lifetime exhibition that sheds light on the Titanic in a first-ever way no museum has attempted before," said Heubusch.
A historic collection of real artifacts from the Titanic alongside items used in the discovery of the famed ship, Titanic at the Reagan Library combines real stories and real artifacts from the real people onboard the ship. Dramatically set with props, sets and costumes from the blockbuster movie about the RMS Titanic, it is a must-see collaboration of secrets, cinema and artifacts!
Highlights include:
• "Alvin" - the titanium submersible sphere that brought Dr. Bob Ballard down to the wreckage of Titanic; the first such submersible to do so
• Sheet music for "Narcissus" which was found on the body of Wallace Hartley, the Titanic's bandleader who refused to stop playing, even as the ship began to sink
• A deck chair from the Titanic, one of only eight known to exist, as well as the only known "widow's seat" deck chair from the Carpathia
• The only known complete set of boarding documents and tickets from the Titanic
• John Jacob Astor IV's pocket watch, found on his body days after the Titanic sank, and his wife's life vest she wore to her safety
• The claim form from Margaret Brown (otherwise known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown") and the Egyptian Talisman she carried off the ship
• Marion Wright Woolcott's wool coat; the one she wore when she escaped in lifeboat 9, then later wore to her wedding; then later cut strips of fabric from to make Bible covers for her three sons as they served overseas
• Pocket watch and pocket knife recovered from the body of Oscar Woody, one of the five mail clerks onboard the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic
• Original film footage of the Titanic's maiden voyage and the Mackay-Bennett's recovery mission
• Movie sets, props and costumes from the blockbuster movie about the RMS Titanic, including a full-size life boat and Rose and Cal's Suite
The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley, California. Public hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Museum is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
TICKETS FOR MUSEUM ADMISSION MAY 27, 2017 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 2018, WHICH INCLUDES ADMISSION TO TITANIC
- General Admission $29.00
- Senior Admission (62+) $26.00
- Youth Admission (11-17) $19.00
- Child Admission (3-10) $16.00
- Children Under 2 FREE
- Audio Tour Rental $7.00
- Active Military FREE*
*Free with valid Military ID – Active military do NOT need to reserve tickets online, all walk-ups will receive Museum entry (please have all guests pre-purchase their tickets)
*Membership includes free admission into the Reagan Library, however, admission to our special exhibits have a small fee. Admission into the Titanic is $13 per member covered by the membership.
Museum exhibit tickets may be pre-purchased at www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets.
For more information on the new exhibit visit www.reaganlibrary.com/titanic.
