BELFAST, Northern Ireland — This city's newest tourist attraction is supposed to be about more than just a 100-year-old tragedy.
Titanic Belfast seeks to reclaim the ship as a manufacturing triumph and anchor redevelopment in a fairly barren section of waterfront.
The museum, which opened March 31, includes sections on Belfast's industrial past (linen was big) before moving on to the rise of the ship-building industry.
There are details about how Titanic was built (including more on rivets than you ever thought you'd know) and fitted (carpet samples, anyone?).
And there are re-created first-, second- and third-class cabins of the White Star ship.
But what was my children's favorite part? The footage of the wreck on the ocean floor, presented at the end.
My 8-year-old son's interest had waned a bit in the museum, but that footage ended things on a high note. My 12-year-old daughter was intrigued nearly all the way through, spending two-plus hours.
One glitch: We were told we'd wait 40 to 50 minutes for an amusement-style "ride" through a simulated shipyard.
"It's a fun experience," we were told, "but it's only six minutes."
We skipped it.
You may be surprised that this museum has no artifacts salvaged from the wreck.
You should not be surprised that there's merchandise. A stuffed bear dressed like a cabin boy, wearing a Titanic cap, was about $24. Titanic Tea costs about $4.30 for 80 bags.
This after adult admission fees of about $22; children 5-16 rates are half that; under 5 free. The museum website, titanicbelfast.com recently announced it was selling out of tickets deep into April, 100 years to the month that the luxury liner sank in the North Atlantic.
Waiting to visit may have other benefits anyway, as nearby attractions, such as the Nomadic, take shape. The only remaining White Star Line ship was used to ferry passengers to Titanic. It's expected to open in the fall.
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