2025: It’s been 40 years since the discovery of the Titanic wreck by Dr. Robert Ballard, which reignited public fascination with the Titanic.

The loss of something can be pretty intense, especially if it’s something so dear to your heart. Every time a person remembers something or reflects on a piece of history, it brings them right in front of the real story. The curiosity of history reflects within all of us. The Titanic has been a huge piece of our culture from the time the ship sailed to the time she sank, and for every day thereafter. Curiosity is what brings people to wonder. The feeling of sadness to the feeling of comfort is what is felt when any topic of the Titanic is mentioned. Museums are the culture that connects us to a time before us, with us, and how it will reflect upon us. We have visited several Titanic exhibits around the United States. Each exhibit brings something unique and different to us, but the emotions always manage to stay the same.

Recently, we got the ability to visit the Titanic Immersive experience in New Orleans, Louisiana. The exhibit is currently housed inside the Scottish Rite Temple. The Scottish Rite Temple was originally known as the First United Methodist Church. In 1906, it was renamed by the Grand Consistory of Louisiana, a Masonic organization. The main building features a large stained-glass window, complete with the familiar Masonic symbol of a double-headed eagle and the Latin phrase, “Spes Mea in Deo,” which translates to “My hope is in God.” Inscribed above is the Latin phrase “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” which translates to “to the greater glory of God.” It now houses several entertaining presentations and exhibits for the city of New Orleans.

The moment you enter this monument, you grab your ticket and face some of the glorious time frames of when the ship was thought of, built, and set sail. All aboard! She waits. Entertained by the famous glass doors, your experience as a passenger of the Titanic begins. You step back in time to April 14, 1912, the night the “unsinkable” ship met its tragic end, when 1,517 had lost their lives. Inside the exhibit there are more than 300 artifacts, immersive storytelling, a walk through inside luxurious first-class cabins, and even coming face-to-face with the infamous iceberg.

credit: Exhibition Hub

John Zaller, executive producer of Exhibition Hub’s Titanic: An Immersive Voyage, and a pioneer in immersive experiences, shares highlights of Robert Ballard’s Titanic wreck discovery that you can rediscover during your visit.  Ballard’s secret mission was to find the Titanic, which was accomplished during a cover mission from a top-secret U.S. Navy operation that was set to locate two missing submarines. Yes, they found the submarines. The discovery of the Titanic was an unexpected result, adding intrigue to the story. Now you can come up close to the first haunting images of the decaying Titanic wreck, revealing the grand staircase, rusting hull, and personal artifacts resting 12,600 feet below the surface. Guests are placed right in front of discovered treasures from Kevin Saucier—owner of one of the world’s largest private Titanic collections—and pieces from Spencer Knarr, who began collecting Titanic memorabilia at just 12 years old. Now, Titanic: An Immersive Voyage lets you step into this historic moment with hands-on activities, projection mapping, in-depth learning, dramatic room re-creations, the latest in VR technology allowing you to dive to the Titanic wreck site, and a detailed audio tour. Guests can also enjoy multiple selfie zones and green-screen photo opportunities, and educational materials that bring this fascinating chapter of history to life.

No other place can bring you face-to-face with the Titanic story. We remember our very visit and still to this day, are captured by what we experienced. Just like a historic memory, we were captivated by yet another story of the ship that was raved as the unsinkable. All ages are welcome; you can learn more about the exhibit and get tickets by going to https://expo-titanic.com/new-orleans. Be sure to learn more about Chris and Will by going to their website at chrisandwill.com and listening to their exclusive interview with Jon Zaller by listening to their “What About Our Life?” podcast show on iHeartRadio.