Nellie Becker – A Titanic Story and Part of the 1912 Exhibit

The Titanic sank in the frigid Atlantic Ocean on the night of April 14-15, 1912.

The tragic loss of over 1,400 lives that night, the failures of the great unsinkable ocean liner, the insufficient lifeboats, all would affect legislation of ship building and sea travel in the months and years to come.

Over 700 survivors would return home and try to pick up the pieces. Many would suffer from the reverberations of that night for the rest of their lives, with some experiencing alcoholism, depression, post traumatic stress, even suicide.

With such an enormous tragedy playing a central role upon the world’s stage, what was happening here, in Bureau County? We’ll take a look at the photographs and stories that the lives of residents here revolved around. Newspaper stories will run the gamut from the ordinary: bids for the building of Matson Public Library were discussed and the architect’s proposal for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument were accepted ahead of its projected summer 1912 build; to the criminal: three masked highwaymen rob the train in Sheffield stealing $800 in cash and a diamond ring; to the scandalous: the front-page coverage of the divorce of the heroic doctor of the Cherry Mine disaster after his wife alleged she was the victim of domestic violence.

From the sad, to the humorous, to the fashions and the politics, we hope the exhibit gives you a better understanding of what life was like here in 1912. We hope you’ll join us in March for the exhibit and all the events we have planned for you!

Museum is opened Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 pm. Self guided tours on Saturday at 2 pm and 4 pm.