Liverpool families invited to share Titanic stories as Maritime Museum plans gallery refresh

Curators at Liverpool’s Merseyside Maritime Museum are calling on people across the city region to help shape the next chapter of its Titanic gallery.

Ahead of the anniversary of the ship’s sinking on 15 April 1912, the team is asking locals to come forward with family stories, objects and connections linked to RMS Titanic as part of plans to refresh its much-loved exhibition.

Originally opened in 2012 to mark 100 years since the disaster, Titanic and Liverpool: The Untold Story quickly became a permanent fixture, shining a light on the city’s deep-rooted links to the liner. Now, while the museum undergoes a major redevelopment, curators are taking the opportunity to reimagine the gallery and uncover new stories from across Liverpool.

Rebecca Smith, Maritime Museum Curator, said the global story of Titanic is well known – but its ties to Liverpool are often overlooked.

She said: “As a Liverpool-registered ship, Titanic has strong and personal connections to the city. Our exhibition shares some of these stories, but we know there could be many more still to uncover.

“Whether it’s something passed down through generations or an object linked to the ship, we’d love to hear from people who can help us tell a richer story about how Titanic’s legacy is connected to Liverpool and its communities.”

One of the most moving items already on display is a letter written by May Louise McMurray to her father, crew member William McMurray, just days before the ship sank. Sent from her Liverpool home to Southampton, it never reached him and was later returned to the family after his death.

That poignant story went on to inspire the city’s unforgettable Sea Odyssey, which saw giant marionettes take to the streets and captivate more than half a million people during a three-day spectacle in 2012.

Rebecca added: “Sea Odyssey shows how something as simple as a handwritten letter can create a powerful emotional connection to history. We’d love to discover more stories like this and bring new perspectives to Titanic’s story when the gallery reopens.”

© Gareth Jones / National Museums Liverpool

The Maritime Museum, alongside the International Slavery Museum, closed in January 2025 for a major transformation project and is expected to reopen in 2029.

When it does, visitors can expect new galleries exploring Liverpool’s maritime past and present, and how the sea has helped shape the city and its people.

In the meantime, some Titanic-related objects from the collection – including a first-class ticket belonging to Reverend Stuart Holden – are currently on display at the World Museum as part of National Museums Liverpool at 40.

People who think they may have a connection to Titanic are invited to contact the museum team via email at titanic@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.