We’ve all read about it in history books and seen the heart-wrenching film in theaters – but now, Las Vegas visitors can view actual artifacts from the boat at “Titanic – the Artifact Exhibit” at the Luxor Hotel and Casino. See pieces of history up close and learn about the boat’s tragic demise on April 14, 1912.

The RMS Titanic was a passenger liner owned by the White Star Line. The largest and most luxurious passenger steamship when she was launched, Titanic was deemed unsinkable by its manufacturers due to advanced technology in its design. But alas, on the night of its maiden voyage, the ship hit an iceberg and sank two hours and forty minutes later, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people out of the 2,228 passengers on board. The sinking of the Titanic is still one of the deadliest maritime disasters today and resulted in several changes to maritime law.

The “Titanic Artifact Exhibit” possesses more than 300 authentic artifacts from the ship, recovered from its final resting place at 12,500 feet beneath the sea. The artifacts range from items such as handbags and jewelry to pieces from the boat itself, including door frames, whistles, and a 15-ton section of the ship’s hull. The exhibit also includes a fully constructed replica of Titanic’s magnificent Grand Staircase, as well as a replica of the Promenade Deck. On the deck, visitors can actually feel the icy weather conditions that passengers of the Titanic felt on that tragic night.

Viewing the personal artifacts of the passengers on board as well as recreations of the first and third-class cabins allows visitors a haunting look at what it was like to be a passenger on the Titanic. Though a bit more somber than other Las Vegas activities, “Titanic – the Artifact Exhibit” provides a fascinating trip into the past to remember one of the most beautiful ships ever created and all the passengers that were lost on it.