More than a century after the RMS Titanic sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, Utahns now have the rare chance to experience the legendary ship up close. The Titanic Exhibition opened Friday at The Shops at South Town, offering an immersive journey through history with detailed recreations, artifacts, and personal stories from the doomed voyage.

Curated by Mark Lach, the exhibition’s creative producer, the traveling showcase allows visitors to “step back in time” aboard the iconic 1912 ocean liner. “People come with so much information — from books, documentaries, or just James Cameron’s film,” Lach said. “This exhibit connects all those perspectives and lets people feel what it was like to be there.”

A labor of love and legacy
Lach has worked on the Titanic project for over 25 years, calling it a “labor of love.” In 2000, he joined the final expedition to the wreck site, diving 2.5 miles beneath the Atlantic Ocean to see the Titanic’s remains firsthand. “When those lights came up and there was the bow of the Titanic — it was off-the-charts exciting, but very emotional,” he said. That experience, he added, shaped how he approaches every exhibit: “It gives you a sense of responsibility to honor all those on board.”

Utah’s personal Titanic connection
During his time in Utah, Lach visited Payson, hometown of Irene Corbett, the only Utah passenger on the Titanic. Corbett, a schoolteacher and nurse, was returning home from London after studying midwifery when the ship sank. She is believed to have stayed aboard to help others rather than secure a lifeboat for herself. “She was strong, ambitious, loving, and giving,” Lach said. “Her story lives on here.”

Immersive experience for visitors
The exhibit features full-scale recreations of first- and second-class staterooms, hallways, and the Titanic’s grand staircase — built to exact scale and inspired by its portrayal in Cameron’s 1997 film. Visitors can also explore artifacts, audio tours, image galleries, and even a virtual reality dive to the shipwreck site.

The Titanic Exhibition will remain open through the holiday season — and possibly longer, depending on attendance. Lach advised visitors not to wait until the last minute: “When we closed in Dallas, people were still trying to get in on the final day.”