News release

Maritime Museum Acquires Giant Model of Ship that Inspired Titanic

Communities, Culture and Heritage (Jan. 2011 - Aug. 2021)

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will showcase the largest antique ship model in Canada, a 106-year-old model of the ocean liner Lusitania, later repainted to resemble its sister ship, the Mauretania.

The Lusitania and the Mauretania, both Cunard Line ships, broke records for speed and luxury and forced the rival company White Star Line to build the even larger and more luxurious Titanic.

The Mauretania also served in the First World War, making many voyages to Halifax to carry Canadian troops to battle overseas.

"The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic works hard to acquire objects and artifacts that complement its mandate," said David Wilson, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. "The ship model is a great asset for telling the stories of our rich maritime history."

The museum is unveiling the six-metre model, on long-term loan from the City of Toronto, with an illustrated talk at the museum on Tuesday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. One Model: Two Ships - The Lusitania and Mauretania Ship Model, will be hosted by Dan Conlin, curator of marine history. The event is free and donations to Feed Nova Scotia are welcome.

"They don't make them like this anymore," says Dan Conlin, Curator of Marine History. "This is a spectacular work of art. We are delighted that the City of Toronto has helped us bring her back to salt water and to the birthplace of Samuel Cunard, the founder of the Cunard line."

The model was in storage at the City of Toronto's museum services system and has been loaned, with models of two other Cunard liners. The models had to be shipped from Toronto in a giant crate carried by a 40-foot tractor trailer and lifted into place in the museum's steam gallery by two forklifts.

The model arrived last year, but the museum needed to unpack and assemble the model. It was then cleaned and restored by a special team of model volunteers.

On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk off the coast of southern Ireland by a German submarine. The loss of 1,198 lives, including many American passengers, helped bring the United States into the First World War.

Information about the public talk can be found at http://maritime.museum.gov.ns.ca .