The Titanic Diaries
It began as a lark almost three years ago. Now, it’s something of an obsession for me to collect all the stories, letters and notes from people who’ve visited us at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri.
Heartwarming, they are. Some make me laugh, some make me cry, but they all make me proud to know our Titanic touches visitors in ways the touring Titanic exhibits can’t hold a candle to.
Reading between the lines tells me a lot about the writers. Take the doubtin’ Thomas who confessed his wife practically had to hogtie him to come aboard and, two hours later, couldn’t drag him off the ship! Said he, “It was the best experience I’ve had in years.”
Then, our Captain Smith received a very special letter written by a dear woman who joined us with her husband, daughter and Tico, her guide dog. She wrote that her voyage and our crew were wonderful, and she described how Captain Smith greeted her after she’d walked up the Grand Staircase: “He gently took my hand, placed it on his face and lightly rubbed his beard with it, saying, ‘This is how the real Captain Smith would have felt.’ He then took my hand and let me feel the handsome carved wood and iron structures that frame the staircase. I could see the captain in my mind and the ship as well. In seven years, since losing my sight, no one had done this for me...I truly appreciated this simple but powerful gesture. We left the ship with warm farewells and memories of a wonderful voyage.”
Some notes are brief and to the point, but they all express appreciation, gratitude or surprise. One chap wrote, “I saw a temporary exhibit in Phoenix that was a real disappointment ...the Grand Staircase was a giant blown-up photo.” Another said this about our Titanic: “Everything was in ship-shape order...brass was polished, floors spotless, crew immaculately groomed and costumed, authentic artifacts and furnishings... Hypnotizing...I felt like I had just stepped into the movie.”
Aye, my diaries are filled to overflowing with wonderful letters and stories from people all over the world. Some are even written by world-famous visitors – people who are often written about themselves. Here’s a line from my favorite:
“It’s frankly the best museum exhibition I think I’ve ever seen.” - Regis Philbin
Website: www.titanicbranson.com |
