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Step aboard Titanic at immersive new Great Lakes Science Center exhibition

Troy Smith

Scale model of the RMS Titanic on display in a museum case; white hull with black lower section and red keel, four yellow funnels, masts and rigging, behind a historical crowd photo. — A model of the Titanic inside the Great Lakes Science Center's new exhibition. Photos: Troy Smith/Axios

It was hailed as an unsinkable ship and the pinnacle of human engineering — now it's a thrilling exhibition at the Great Lakes Science Center.

Why it matters: "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," which opens Thursday, offers a highly immersive look at the infamous British ocean liner that has captivated generations.

Flashback: As you probably know by now, the Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage from England to New York City in 1912.

Just four days in, the ship struck an iceberg and sank. Roughly 1,500 people – ranging from some of the world's wealthiest people to emigrants — died.

The big picture: It's a cautionary tale that generations have become familiar with in school and through various films, including James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster.

The touring exhibition at the science center deepens the experience.

State of play: It starts by taking you through the ship's wreckage, using touchscreen displays and recovered artifacts — everything from machinery and dinnerware to the large bollards used to tie the ship to its pier.

The exhibition also houses a replica of the French IFREMER vessel used for the first major salvage attempt of the Titanic in 1987.

Yellow underwater research craft labeled IFREMER hanging from cables, with multiple lenses and robotic arms on a museum display; blue left wall and dark right wall surround it. — The IFREMER vessel used to explore the Titanic shipwreck in the 1980s.

Next, the exhibition takes you inside the ship with stunning recreations of passageways, cabins and dining areas.

It's hard not to hear Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" as you walk through hallways that look as they did in the 1997 film.

The intrigue: The showcase features artifacts you can touch, such as fragments of the ship and a wall of ice kept at the same temperature as an actual iceberg.