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 today, 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 the French IFREMER vessel used for the first major salvage attempt of the Titanic in 1987.

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.

• Visitors can also learn more about passengers using scannable cards and explore the sunken wreckage via virtual reality headsets.

If you go: The exhibition runs through Jan. 18, 2027.

• Tickets start at $20 for adults.

Bonus: "Titanic" (the movie) will screen inside the science center's DOME Theater at 6pm tonight.

• Tickets are $11.

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Coincidentally, the Ohio Titanic Memorial has existed just outside the Great Lakes Science Center on the Northcoast Harbor walkway since 2005.

By the numbers: The memorial honors more than 50 Ohio-bound passengers aboard the ship during its maiden voyage in 1912.

• Fewer than half of them survived, according to the Great Lakes Titanic Society.

Zoom in: More than 40 of those passengers had ties to Northeast Ohio, according to the 2013 book "Ohio Tales of the Titanic," by Janet A. White and Mary Ann Whitley.

• Among the survivors were Mary Elizabeth Davison, who is buried in Bedford Cemetery, and Caroline Bonnell Jones, an Ohio transplant from Chicago who lived in Shaker Heights.

Between the lines: Artist and Massachusetts native Francis Davis Millet, who painted 13 murals inside the Cleveland Trust Building during the early 20th century, was also aboard.

• He was traveling to New York on business and died during the ship's sinking.

🏡 City Council is finally nearing passage of a new measure regulating Airbnb and other short-term rentals in the city of Cleveland. (News 5)

🏊‍♂️ Cleveland pools will be open seven days a week this summer as part of the city's seasonal safety plan. (Signal Cleveland)

🍻 The owners of Birdietown in Lakewood are taking over Forest City Shuffleboard in Ohio City with plans to reopen this summer. (Cleveland Scene)

🚖 Cleveland's "Golf Cart Girl," Britney Taylor, is a veteran with a disability who started her company in 2023 to help folks navigate downtown and its soaring parking rates. (Cleveland Magazine)

Cleveland has slipped from No. 30 to No. 31 in the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore rankings.

The big picture: The annual report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems relative to one another based on five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment.

• Cleveland's highest ranking was No. 23 in 2022.

Zoom in: Cleveland continues to receive strong marks for park access, park equity, and park amenities.

• 88% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, above the national ParkScore city average of 76%.
• And Cleveland ranked second overall for "splash pads" and other water amenities.

Yes, but: The overall ranking continues to be hurt by below-average marks for park acreage.

• The median Cleveland park measures 3.9 acres, below the national ParkScore median of 5.4 acres.

Zoom out: D.C. once again took home top honors thanks to its high scores for investment and access, with nearly all residents within a 10-minute walk of a park.

• It's now been in the top spot for six years running.

Cleveland City Council approved legislation this week eliminating Cleveland's 4% admissions tax for locally operated venues with capacities under 750 people.

Why it matters: Independent venues say they're still recovering from the pandemic and are struggling with rising costs and changing nightlife habits among young people.

• Venues with capacities under 150 people were already exempt.

By the numbers: Councilman Kris Harsh, who sponsored the legislation, said the change will cost the city only about $341,000 annually.

Context: Eliminating admissions taxes was one recommendation of the National Independent Venue Association, which last year found that Cleveland's independent stages contribute $742.5 million to Cuyahoga County's GDP.

• That's more than the entire sector produces in 28 states.

What they're saying: "We're anchors in the neighborhoods," Happy Dog owner Sean Watterson told council, citing venues like Beachland Ballroom in Collinwood and the Foundry in Old Brooklyn.

The other side: Councilman Richard Starr was the lone "no" vote. He objected to the exclusion of strip clubs in the legislation.

• "Entertainment is entertainment," he argued.