Las Vegas is a city built on escapism and frivolity, yet there are abundant opportunities to experience the wonders of reality and history, too. Numerous museums and exhibitions allow you to enlighten your mind and enrich your soul, from the Atomic Testing Museum to Real Bodies at Bally's. The biggest and most impressive of these is Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor.

Located on the atrium level of Luxor's massive pyramid, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is a massive exhibit befitting the White Star Liner's "Ship of Dreams." Much more than a stuffy museum, the 25,000 square foot attraction is an emotional journey to experience what a trans-Atlantic passage on the ill-fated liner would have been like.

Titanic's walk-through exhibit is a fully realized sensory experience. Sound and lighting effects, throbbing vibrations, icy temperatures and chilling breezes enhance recreations of the Promenade Deck and engine room. There are replicas of the Grand Staircase, corridors and cabins belonging to First and Third class sections. The staterooms are meticulously displayed using authentic furniture commissioned for the Exhibition by original manufacturers. 

Some sections of the Exhibition are dedicated to fascinating details of the Titanic's construction, launch, and operations. But it's the personal stories of the victims and survivors that tell the true tale of the ocean liner and its sinking. Hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreckage at the bottom of the ocean are on display. They offer an insight into the lives that were lost on that fateful evening.

Postcards, shaving implements, luggage, clothing, playing cards, money – all of these everyday items from a century ago remind us that each person on board was an actual soul. You'll learn with reverence about immigrants hoping to start a new life in the United States. You'll witness the opulent lifestyle of the rich and wealthy, who were just as vulnerable to the chilling waters. And you'll be inspired by the workers who bravely assisted women and children to the lifeboats, sacrificing themselves in the ultimate act of heroism.

All of the artifacts on display, including numerous pieces from the ship itself, have been carefully restored and preserved by RMS Titanic, Inc. This organization was formed to serve as the official steward of the wreckage site and its contents. Using the latest scientific advances, experts have cataloged each recovered item and treated it to protect against further degradation. Artifacts will sometimes be retired from the display, and others brought in to replace them. 

The most amazing part of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is "The Big Piece," an enormous section of the starboard hull. Suspended mid-air in a climate-controlled environment, this massive relic took several years and countless hours of effort to bring to the surface. An amazing testimonial to the wonders of science and archaeology, "The Big Piece" can only be seen in Las Vegas. 

Optional audio narration devices enable you to hear in-depth details of the various rooms and objects throughout the Exhibition. Descriptions are often provided in actor characterizations of actual passengers and crew members. A child-friendly version is also available, with simplified information delivered in an entertaining style.

Whether you're a fan of history, a movie buff or just looking for a relaxing way to spend an hour or two, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is an amazing trip through time.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.