What future do you all want for the recovered 6000 Titanic artifacts

[Richard Stover]

Actually, Titanic has been "Rusting in Piece" for the better part of a century before it was located, and will continue to do so, until, as posted above, it's a big smudge on the ocean floor.
As far as is known, the only artifacts taken have been from the debris field. It's possible that some have been taken off the bow or stern sections illegally, but i have no information in that regard.
There are a HUGE amount of wrecks out there in the ocean that people have died on, so what makes the Titanic so special in that instance? Just because it's very popular doesn't give it any special protection in my book although being popular does help to protect it more.
People dive and take artifacts off the Andrea Doria, The Empress of Ireland, and numerous other ships, ect, and no one really says a word about it though they are also grave sites.
Why just 160 artifacts? The marconi room on Titanic is only 1 of 2 known to still exist, (The Brittanic i think has the second one) and once it's gone, it's gone forever unless it can eventually be raised. We'll never be able to find out more about it if it stays where it is. (Can always hope it's raised someday...lol)
The same goes for numerous artifacts whose stories would have never been known if they were still on the ocean floor.
As long as artifacts are shown respectfully, (In museums and exhibitions, ect) then i'm all for it.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>(Can always hope it's raised someday...lol)<<

Not especially realistic but a recovery operation for the Marconi apperatus technically feasible. Since information discovered by going down there and looking it over exceeds the corperate memory in surviving Marconi records, this one is yet another nail in the coffin for the notion that there is nothing further to be learned from the wreck.

The wreck still has a lot to say and a lot to teach if we have the wisdom to listen.

 

[Matthew Farr]

>>As far as is known, the only artifacts taken have been from the debris field. <<

I may be wrong about this but, I remember seeing somewhere (Either a book or a TV show) that the crows nest was knocked off the mast when they took the bell off. Did anyone else hear this?

 

[Richard Stover]

I imagine that the bell was knocked off at impact with the bottom or came loose on the way down.
From what i had read i thought that supposedly one of the submersibles had knocked the crows nest off, but as it was extremely fragile it probably wouldn't have taken much i think. Not like any of them are going to admit it even if it was true...lol

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>I may be wrong about this but, I remember seeing somewhere (Either a book or a TV show) that the crows nest was knocked off the mast when they took the bell off. Did anyone else hear this?<<

That one's been kicked around for years. The catch is that there is no firm evidence to support that. It's just as likely that the crows nest simply corroded enough to fall off of it's own accord. I'm not going to say it's impossible but I'd want to see something more reliable then an assertion made with little evidence before I buy into it.

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

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it is like princess diana create new fictional rubbish and put a new edge like conspiracy theory's etc and wont let her rest in piece

No, it's nothing like that, Steven. You're comparing apples and oranges.

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I admit I have never visited any artifacts but I will never tend to because I have no intention help make money for museums especially how the wreck has been treated

Well, maybe you should. Like I said earlier, you might walk out with a different opinion, regarding the artifacts and where the money is directed to.

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The wreck still has a lot to say and a lot to teach if we have the wisdom to listen.

I'll second that, Mike.​

 

[George L. Lorton]

quote:

The wreck still has a lot to say and a lot to teach if we have the wisdom to listen.

Scientists just love the wreck of Titanic. They have learned so much about sea life at that depth and also about the corrosion of the metal. So it isn't only a snatch and grab. Most of the info they wouldn't have obtained so easily if not for the expeditions to the wreck. I myself am not in favor of bringing artifacts up from wrecks were there are skeletal remains but as far as I know there isn't any skeletal remains on Titanic. They might as well save what they can of the ship's brief history before she up and collapses. Thats just my humble opinion.​

 

[steven evans]

Michael H. Standart
well don't titanic inc make money from the disaster, look at the deck where the gymnasium is submarines landed on it and the roof has collapsed.

 

[Mark Robert Hopkins]

quote:

who care's about future generation's

I care, damn it! 1,496 people died horribly that night, and they deserve to be remembered. In addition, we have to learn more about who she was, as well as those who were aboard her, and to learn what actually happened when she met her demise. In this way, we can improve engineering and shipping conditions so that such a travesty never again occurs.

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You are TOO YOUNG to remember the 1960s and 1970s, when Titanic was all but forgotten.

Yes, I do remember that time period quite well, Bill. Titanic was rarely discussed, and whenever it was (usually during after-dinner conversations in the living room or as passing interest during backyard barbeques) it came across as some point of curiosity that kept us all wondering and asking question after question.

Ever since Ballard found the wreck in September of '85, not only has it stirred my interest more than I could have have possibly imagined, but it's allowed me to answer all those questions I had as a kid. The still-unaswered questions keep me moving forward to learn more, and the continual visits to the site form a major part of that.

Oh yes, that's right--Steven thinks we should leave it alone. Well, if Ballard had left it alone so long ago (not actually that long ago), none of us--including Steven--would be here now to discuss it.

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Who the hell are you to decide what anyone "Needs to know?"

Why, didn't you know Michael? He is the "great Titanic expert" who, after reading only two books within the past year or two, has come here to set us all straight on "the facts".

And chances are that the authors of those two books were once and/or still are members affiliated with this site.​

 

[Mark Robert Hopkins]

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The wreck still has a lot to say and a lot to teach if we have the wisdom to listen.

Third.

By the way, the only way we can gain that wisdom is through continual dives and ongoing research.​

 

[Mark Robert Hopkins]

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well don't titanic inc make money from the disaster

Not on or from the disaster, but those who wish to learn more and keep her memory alive, such as divers, researchers, scientists, members of academia, and, yes, even those many hundreds of thousands of people who visit the museums to view and reflect on those artifacts.

That money goes into further research, (hopefully) not into some fat cat's pocket, so it is going to good use, even to educate YOU.

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look at the deck where the gymnasium is submarines landed on it and the roof has collapsed.

Steven, the roof is collapsing in places, but not as a result of submarines; the roof is undergoing continuous deterioration. This last point is why submarines proceed cautiously. Researchers who are fully aware of the state of the wreck take pains to settle their machines where they will likely do the least harm to her. Anyone who isn't familiar with the proper caveats or who has no intention of being careful and respectful enough to heed those caveats has absolutely no business going there.​

 

[Matthew Farr]

>>It's just as likely that the crows nest simply corroded enough to fall off of it's own accord.<<

Thats what I figured.

>>He is the "great Titanic expert" who, after reading only two books within the past year or two, has come here to set us all straight on "the facts".<<

I too am becoming frustrated by a certain persons naivety and inability to accept what we are telling him. That being said, I have to applaud his passion for Titanic. Clearly he wants to see her respected.

 

[Mark Robert Hopkins]

quote:

That being said, I have to applaud his passion for Titanic. Clearly he wants to see her respected.

I concur on that one, Matthew. There are many ways to show respect for Titanic, though, but leaving her alone, to me, is the least respectful way because it means never learning from humankind's mistakes. By exploring her, the Titanic's grave serves noble and necessary ongoing service to instill humility and educate us as to why and how those mistakes were made and therefore how not to repeat them.​

 

[Matthew Farr]

>>There are many ways to show respect for Titanic, though, but leaving her alone, to me, is the least respectful way<<

I agree with you on that. We need to learn as much from the wreck as we can before it is gone.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>well don't titanic inc make money from the disaster,<<

So? They are a private enterprise and they can't compel funding. Love 'em or lump 'em, they're still the ones who are leading the pack in artifact recovery and conservation.

>> look at the deck where the gymnasium is submarines landed on it and the roof has collapsed.<<

Steven, nobody is argueing that the human presence has been without consequences but I think blaming the collapse of the roof on the submersibles is a bit simplistic. The ship is already in an advanced state of decay and by this time, the roof would have collapsed anyway, human intervention or not. The plain fact of the matter is that the wreck lies in a salt water bath, and salt water is merciless with steel.

>>I too am becoming frustrated by a certain persons naivety and inability to accept what we are telling him.<<

In fairness, I think we're dealing with a young 'un here. We need to be mindful of the fact that such people tend to see things in terms of black and white absolutes. The problem is that the world as it really is, is hardly that neat. It's filled with shades of gray.