It’s dripping with irony!
The Titanic exhibit at suburban Chicago’s Volo Museum was ironically flooded on the 114th anniversary of the ship’s tragic sinking, adding an unwelcome touch of realism to the display.
The Wednesday deluge was caused by a torrential downpour overnight which saw 2.43 inches of rain recorded at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, marking the rainiest April day in the area since 2013.
The Windy City has already seen a whopping 9.29 inches of rain this spring, five inches more than usual, according to the National Weather Service.
“The irony of any Titanic exhibit flooding is strange enough, but the fact that ours flooded on the exact anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking is more than ironic; it’s almost paranormal,” Jim Wojdyla, marketing director for the Volo Museum told ABC 7 Chicago.
Video of the flooding shared on the museum’s Facebook page shows soggy exhibits featuring period clothing and cars, and a small screening theater sitting in what appears to be several inches of brackish rainwater.
Surprisingly, it’s not the first time the exhibit has faced flooding — the museum said it also happened in June 2024, shortly after it opened its doors.
“The first time occurred during its opening year, and now again on the anniversary,” Wojdyla said.
“I’m not sure what to make of the coincidence, but it’s enough to give us goosebumps.”
The museum said it has taken steps to safeguard its numerous Titanic artifacts, including art, fashion pieces and several vehicles valued at over $6 million which were owned by passengers including John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim and Lady Duff Gordon, according to the outlet.
The RMS Titanic sunk into the frigid depths of the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, four days after it set sail from Southampton England bound for the Big Apple.
More than 2,200 people were on board when the vessel hit an iceberg, resulting in the death of as many as 1,635 passengers.
The derelict ship broke into two pieces, and today sits at a depth of some 12,500 feet, its carcass slowly disintegrating due to iron-eating bacteria which live in the murky depths.
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