The MCQ presents the human stories of the Titanic
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
Most people know the fatal story of the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but what about the people on board? For its latest exhibit, open until Jan. 11, 2026, the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ) presents Titanic: The Human Story.
Even before stepping into the MCQ, visitors encounter Titanic written out in large red letters on a single blue block beside the replica bow, where people can mimic Jack Dawson from the iconic 1997 movie: “I’m the king of the world!”
Entering the exhibit, visitors travel through time to April 1912 to meet the workers, architects and engineers of the Titanic, the crew and pas- sengers on board and the ships that rescued the survivors. Listening to the audioguide, in French or English, they discover the stories behind the 200 displayed objects (clothes, jewelry, journals, tickets, docu- ments, life jackets, silverware, dishes and more); the models of first-, second- and third- class rooms; and the ship in all its glory and in its current condition, sitting in two large pieces at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. They also find authentic journals, leather shoes, postcards, papers and a diamond necklace that inspired the countless films and stories that have stemmed from the fatal night of April 14, 1912.
“Every time we’re able to host a major international exhibition here, the magic happens, and audiences from all over turn out,” said Julie Lemieux, MCQ executive director. “Titanic is the human story behind the great history, an approach faithful to what distinguishes the MCQ, a museum of society par excellence.”
The creative geniuses be- hind this exhibit are from the Spanish museum Musealia. To create Titanic: The Human Story, they worked with one of the world’s leading Titanic experts, Claes-Göran Wetterholm, who has made four research voyages to the wreck. “What moves us most about the story of the Titanic is not just the facts of its tragedy, but the lives tied to it: the choices, hopes, and consequences that shaped an era,” said Luis Ferreiro, president and CEO of Musealia. “With this exhibition, we attempt to go beyond the myth to reveal the world from which it emerged, and the people who embarked and perished on board during that voyage. Presenting it for the first time in Canada, within the walls of the MCQ, is a privilege – this is where this story should be heard.” It has been presented in Barcelona; Stockholm; London, England; Mexico City; New York; Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; and now, Quebec City.
“I have seen many exhibits presented at the MCQ. This is one of the best, if not the best,” said Laura Blouin. “Often, when I learned about the Titanic, I imagined the ship, the crew in the [crow’s] nest, the iceberg, the musicians, the freezing water and the wreckage. Now, I see beyond the steel and wood. I feel like I’ve met the passengers and crew, thanks in part to the extremely well-written and narrated audioguide. The enormous piece of ice in the middle of the exhibit is a nice touch and reminds people just how cold the waters were that night.”
For more information, visit mcq.org/en/discover/exhibitions/titanic.