Titanic Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Titanic Belfast |
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Titanic Belfast
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| General information | |
| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°36′29.97″N 5°54′35.09″W / 54.6083250°N 5.9097472°W |
| Construction started | May 2009 |
| Opened | 31 March 2012 |
| Cost | £101 million |
| Height | 38.5 m (126 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Eric Kuhne and Associates |
Titanic Belfast is a special visitor center that opened in 2012. It stands in Belfast, Northern Ireland, right where the famous RMS Titanic ship was built. This amazing building tells the stories of the Titanic, which sadly sank in 1912 on its first trip. It also shares tales of its sister ships, RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic.
The building is huge, with over 12,000 square meters of space. Most of this area is filled with exciting galleries, where you can learn all about the ships.
Contents
History of the Titanic Belfast Building
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The Titanic Belfast building is on a piece of land called Queen's Island. This land was created in the mid-1800s by filling in part of the water. For many years, a company called Harland and Wolff used this area to build giant ships. They even built special slipways and docks for the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic to be built at the same time.
Over time, shipbuilding in Belfast slowed down. Many old structures on the island were taken down. However, some important historical features were saved, like the slipways where the Titanic was launched. The giant Samson and Goliath cranes also remained.
In 2001, the unused land was renamed the "Titanic Quarter". There were big plans to rebuild and improve the area. In 2005, people decided to build a museum just for the Titanic. The goal was to open it by 2012, which was 100 years after the Titanic's first voyage and sinking.
Many ideas were thought of for the museum. Finally, in 2008, a project called the "Titanic Signature Project" was announced. The government of Northern Ireland helped pay for half of the building. Other companies and the Belfast Harbour also helped with funding.
An American architect named Eric Kuhne and British designers called Event Communications were chosen to create the visitor center. They hoped Titanic Belfast would attract many visitors each year. The museum was meant to help bring new life to the city, just like the Guggenheim Museum did for Bilbao. It is now part of many Titanic-related sites in the area, including the old Harland and Wolff offices and the SS Nomadic, which was a smaller ship connected to the Titanic.
Visitors and Awards
Titanic Belfast has been very popular since it opened. In its first year, over 800,000 people visited, which was much more than expected! Many of these visitors came from outside Northern Ireland.
The attraction had its busiest year in 2017/18, with over 840,000 visitors. In 2016, Titanic Belfast won the "World's Leading Tourism Attraction Award" at the World Travel Awards. It was the second most visited tourist attraction in Northern Ireland in 2019.
Since 2012, Titanic Belfast has won fifteen awards. It has really helped tourism in Northern Ireland grow. Many famous people have visited, including Queen Elizabeth II and Robert Ballard, the person who discovered the Titanic wreck.
Building Design and Construction
Eric Kuhne and Associates designed the building. Its shape is meant to look like the front of ships, pointing towards the River Lagan. Most of the building is covered with 3,000 shiny silver aluminum pieces. It stands 38.5 meters (126 feet) tall, which is the same height as the Titanic's hull!
Inside, the eight-story building has 12,000 square meters of space. The main part is a series of galleries that tell the story of the Titanic from its building to its sinking. On the top floor, there is a large event space called the Titanic Suite. It can hold 750 people for banquets.
A special feature in the conference center is a copy of the Titanic's famous staircase. This staircase was made popular by the 1997 movie Titanic. It was a big challenge to build, as there were no original drawings. The new staircase has 10,000 parts and weighs almost four tons!
The building also has places for education, shops, and restaurants. Building the center cost £77 million, with more money spent on preparing the site. The foundations needed a huge amount of concrete, delivered by 700 trucks in just 24 hours.
In front of the building, there is a bronze sculpture called Titanica by Rowan Gillespie. It shows a diving female figure and is meant to represent hope. It was officially opened just before Titanic Belfast opened in 2012.
Hickson’s Point
Hickson’s Point is a place that opened in March 2018. It is designed to look like a real Belfast pub from the early 1900s. The name comes from Robert Hickson, who was one of the first shipbuilders in Belfast.
Museum Galleries
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The exhibition at Titanic Belfast has nine interactive galleries. They cover different parts of the Titanic's story:
- Boomtown Belfast – Belfast at the start of the 20th century
This gallery shows what Belfast was like when the Titanic was being built. You can see old shipyard gates and interactive displays about the ship's plans and models.
- The Shipyard' – A ride around a replica of Titanics rudder
This gallery has a tall steel structure that looks like the huge gantry used to build the Titanic. You take a lift to the top, where you see and hear about shipbuilding. Then, you ride in a small car through a recreated shipyard, passing a giant copy of the Titanic's rudder.
- The Launch – How Titanic was launched on 31 May 1911
This gallery shows scenes from the day the Titanic was launched into Belfast Lough. About 100,000 people watched this event. You can look out a window to see the actual slipway where the ship entered the water.
- The Fit-Out – Getting Titanic ready from launch to April 1912
Here, you'll see a large model of the Titanic. It shows what the ship looked like for its passengers and crew, including all three classes of cabins. A special 360-degree computer tour lets you explore every part of the ship, from the engine room to the dining rooms.
- The Maiden Voyage – The journey from Belfast to Southampton, then to Cherbourg, Cobh, and westwards
This gallery shows the ship's first journey. You can walk on a wooden deck, sit on benches, and look out at the docks. There are also photos taken by Father Francis Browne, a photographer who was on the Titanic for part of its trip.
- The Sinking – The disaster of 14/15 April 1912
This gallery tells the story of the Titanic's sinking. You'll hear Morse code SOS messages and listen to survivors' stories. There's a wall made of 400 replica life-jackets, with an image of the sinking ship projected onto them.
- The Aftermath – The legacy of the disaster
This gallery shows what happened after the sinking. There's a full-size copy of one of the lifeboats. You can learn about the investigations into the disaster. Interactive screens let you search for passengers and crew members. You can also learn about the later history of Harland and Wolff and the Titanic's sister ships.
- Myths & Legends – The facts behind some of the stories about the Titanic
Many stories and myths grew from the Titanic disaster, appearing in movies, books, and songs. With Celine Dion's song My Heart Will Go On playing, you can explore how the Titanic has been shown in popular culture. Interactive screens help you discover the truth behind some of the myths.
- Titanic Beneath – About the wreck of the Titanic and its rediscovery
The last gallery shows the Titanic as it is today, deep under the North Atlantic Ocean. Working with Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck, this gallery uses videos and images from his expeditions. A special glass floor lets you see a fish-eye view of the wreck. Below this floor is the Ocean Exploration Centre, where you can learn about marine life and ocean exploration.
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See also
In Spanish: Titanic Belfast para niños
