Southamptons Titanic

 The RMS Titanic needs no introduction. Its story is legendary and it remains the world's most famous ship, even though nearly 100 years have passed since that fateful night.

While the sinking of the Titanic had an impact on people around the world, nowhere was the loss felt more than in Southampton. As many people already know, Titanic's maiden voyage began from Southampton, but not so many people are aware of the fact that the vast majority of the crew of Titanic were Sotonians. When the Titanic sunk and so many lives were lost, the impact this had on Southampton was huge. Hundreds of families lost husbands, fathers and sons, and the tragedy devastated the community.

Despite the loss, Southampton remains proud of its link to Titanic and has hosted exhibitions and more through the years. The city has also recently approved a spectacular new Titanic Museum that is set to become one of Southampton's most popular tourist attractions, along with the new Ocean Liner Experience that is being built.

Southampton's Titanic Museum
Though still at the early stages the City of Southampton is very excited about the new Titanic Museum that will be built over the next few years. Fans of the Titanic will love this fabulous museum that is set to include a huge replica of the ship that visitors can actually climb aboard. Outside you will see an impressive dockside scene of the Titanic just as she's about to depart.

Ocean Liner Experience
As well as the new Titanic Museum, Southampton is gaining another top attraction within the next year. The Titanic is the most famous of the cruise ships associated with the city, but this maritime city has seen many other famous liners depart from here over the decades. And what better place for this new state of the art attraction than Southampton's waterfront?!

The Ocean Liner Experience will be fun and informative with mock-ups of cabins and interactive displays and attractions that tell the story of all the liners associated with Southampton. Of course the Titanic will feature here too, and the Ocean Liner Experience will become the new home of the acclaimed ‘Titanic Honour and Glory' exhibition that has been touring the country. Visitors can see a great selection of artefacts from the Titanic, as well as memorabilia from numerous other cruise ships too.

Southampton Resident and Final Titanic Survivor Passes Away
Though many lives were lost there were those who survived too. Of the 2,200 passengers and crew who set sail from Southampton on April 12, nearly 1500 tragically died as the Titanic went down, leaving 700 to be saved. Amongst these survivors was a baby, only 9 weeks old, and the youngest passenger aboard Titanic. Millvena Dean had been born on the 2nd of February 1912 and was heading to a new life in the United States with her brother, mother and father. Although Millvena's father did not survive, the rest of her family did and they returned to Southampton.

After a long life, Millvena became the final Titanic survivor in October 2007, but her battle with ill health was lost in May 2009 when she passed away in Southampton at the grand old age of 97.

Now with all of the survivors gone the memory of the Titanic has to live on in the books, films, artefacts and memorabilia that have been written and collected together over the years. And Southampton will be at the forefront of keeping that memory alive with its two fantastic new visitor attractions.