Belfast Celebrates the Titanic's Legacy on Its 109th Anniversary
They thought it was unsinkable, but at 2:20 AM on that fateful night in 1912, the world's most famous ocean liner sank beneath the surface of the sea, after colliding with an iceberg two and a half hours earlier.
The news of the tragic sinking and the loss of 1,490 passengers and crew was met with grief, shock, and disbelief worldwide. Yet, more than a hundred years later, the maritime disaster still lingers in our minds. In the following decades, the stories of Titanic's passenger list, which includes a cast of characters from all nationalities and ranks, has generated countless newspaper articles, books, films, memorials, museums, and experiences.
The place that the ocean liner holds in world history was further solidified in 1985 when Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the Titanic in the depths of the sea, as well as in 1997 after the release of the famous movie by James Cameron featuring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, which won 11 Oscars.
However, the 109th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking will be remembered worldwide, but especially in Belfast, the city that designed and built the luxurious ocean liner.
Opened nearly 100 years after the day the RMS Titanic set sail from the Harland & Wolff shipyard, the impressive Titanic Belfast is the largest museum dedicated to the famous ship in the world and was awarded the Best Tourist Attraction in the World in 2016. This interactive museum tells the story of the tragic ocean liner and the people who built and sailed on it, including actual pieces of the famous ship.
Although it is eager to welcome its guests when the time comes, its traditional commemorations and anniversary events will take place virtually in 2021 due to the pandemic.
This year, Titanic Belfast will hold an online event called "A Night to Remember" to mark the anniversary of the sinking. It will also provide live content on its Twitter account and recount the events that took place leading up to the ship's collision with the iceberg until its tragic sinking. Everyone can follow it on social media @TitanicBelfast.
Elsewhere in the city, the Belfast Titanic Society will organize a series of online talks, which include a remembrance of the events from 109 years ago, the day after the news of the maritime disaster was reported. Additionally, the Belfast City Council, which has a memorial garden dedicated to all who died on the Titanic, will release a special video on April 15 to commemorate the anniversary.
And when we can travel again, Belfast will be ready and filled with Titanic-related activities and attractions to enjoy like never before. From the Titanic Hotel, created in the former headquarters of Harland and Wolff, to walks along the slipways where the ocean liner first entered the sea, along with its massive dry dock and original waterway, there is a wide variety of guided tours, attractions, exhibitions, events, and experiences worthy of the iconic "ship of dreams."