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Seaport Museum Tells Stories Of 'Titanic Philadelphians'

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - More than 40 people from the Philadelphia area were on board the Titanic 100 years ago. Some of their stories are told in a new exhibit, called Titanic Philadelphians, opening today at the Independence Seaport Museum along Penn's Landing.

A first-class passenger list of the Titanic is among things on display. As well as a letter written on-board on the ocean liner's stationary.

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Letters written on-board the Titanic are among the items on display at the Independence Seaport Museum. (Credit: John McDevitt)

Megan Good, with the Independence Seaport Museum, researched the prominent families from the area who were on-board and those accompanying them.

"Most of the families from Philadelphia were traveling first class on the Titanic and were extremely wealthy. So a lot of them brought their help with them."

Listen to John McDevitt's interview with Megan Good in this CBS Philly podcast:

The Thayer family of Haverford and Carter family of Bryn Mawr are among stories told in the exhibit.

There were 12 dogs on board. Three survived, including a Pomeranian who made it into a rescue boat with a first class passenger from the Potter party of Mount Airy.

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