Maritime Museum Opens Cable Ships Exhibit for Titanic Anniversary

Published by the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage

Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is opening its special temporary exhibit Cable Ships: Connecting Halifax to Titanic and the World to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic.

Quotes

Experiencing the Titanic-related exhibits at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is an excellent way to learn more about Halifax's connection to the tragedy. In addition to attending commemorative events, I encourage everyone to consider visiting the museum. David Wilson, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage

The museum is proud to showcase our maritime heritage. With the special anniversary for Titanic, we will share with visitors the personal and historical connections to highlight how these noble cable ships and the city of Halifax, became part of the Titanic story. Kim Reinhardt, manager, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Quick Facts

  • Titanic's Halifax connection began when the cable ships Mackay-Bennett and Minia were chartered by the White Star Line to search for Titanic victims.
  • A complement to the museum's permanent exhibit Titanic: The Unsinkable Ship and Halifax, the special exhibit delves into the two cable ships, their captains and crews, and examines the science and technology of undersea telegraph cables and Morse telegraphy, considered the World Wide Web of the time.
  • The cable ships exhibit is based on museum research and contains historical photos, crew accounts, cable ships and undersea telegraph cable artifacts from the museum's collection. Visitors will also learn about the science of undersea cables through video animation by Graphic and Digital Media Design students from the Centre for Arts and Technology in Halifax.
  • The museum will be open today, April 12, for a public opening reception at 7 p.m., and will be open special hours Sunday, April 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibit runs until Nov. 4.

Learn More

Media Contacts

Jenny Nodelman
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
902-424-4854
Cell: 902-471-3320
E-mail:

Images

Bow view of the CS Mackay-Bennett
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Mackay-Bennett proceeding up Halifax Harbour. Visible on the deck are coffins containing victims of Titanic’s sinking.
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Crewmen carefully storing cable in large cable tank.
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Lord Kelvin crew repairing cable
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Boat Crew Retrieving a Body
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Videos

Gerry Lunn discusses the Cable Ship Exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Audio

Gerry Lunn, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic says cable ships were sent to find undersea cables and repair them.
Mr. Lunn says a large part of the exhibit is devoted to the Titanic.