Carter and Molly with First Class Maid Jaynee and Handler Kim Breit after greeting the ships guests.

A well known national hotel has a daily “duck march” at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, with five ducks waddling along a red carpet to and from its lobby fountain. Well, in Branson, Missouri, when the whistle of the Titanic Museum Attraction blows at Noon each day, “Molly” and “Carter, two adorable and cuddly King Charles Spaniels, come around the bow of the great ship with their handler and one of the Titanic’s crew as they promenade down the winding walkway and past the waterfall to the iceberg by the attractions entrance where they “greet” the ships guests and pose for pictures.

When the Titanic’s First Class Maid, Jaynee said, “I love and adore Molly and Carter,” she was probably expressing the way a lot of the Titanic’s passengers feel about the two loveable “Titanic Mascots.” Kim Breit, one of their handlers who has been working with “the girls,” as she calls them, since their arrival at the ship in March of 2010 said that they “just love being around people and getting attention.”

Nowhere is that more evident than when they are in their carriage by the iceberg after the walk posing for pictures and interacting with the ships guests as they pet them. In one case, no pictures because of privacy reasons, a man in a wheel chair could not get close enough to pet the dogs. It was touching to observe the efforts that both Jaynee and Kim went through to bring Molly and Carter to him for pictures with his family and so he could pet them.

The look on his face as he petted them was priceless. To this writer, it illustrated the personality, heart and training of the Titanic’s crew toward ensuring that every guest has a great experience and the essence of what differentiates Branson from every other major tourist attraction in the world; the way we care about and for our guests.

Breit continued saying that Molly and Carter are sisters and will be three years old in November of this year. She points out that although they are sisters and both love attention and being around people that they have two distinct personalities. Carter is a big “snuggler” and likes to be held while Molly “is very independent.” Although “Carter” is a male name, she got her name from the “Carter” family who was traveling aboard the Titanic with a King Charles Spaniel at the time of its sinking. The Carters survived the tragic event, but sadly their King Charles Spaniel did not.

The life that Molly and Carter lead adds new meaning to “Being treated like a dog.” There are three handlers that rotate taking care of their every need during their working day as well as taking them home with them at night. When they are not greeting or interacting with guests while at the ship, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., they spend time relaxing in their “lavish” climate controlled “kennel” aboard the ship

For additional information or tickets for the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Titanic's "Survivors' Wall of Stories," tells "The Rest of the Story."*

BRANSON, Mo. As we approach the 100th Anniversary of the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912 the horrific loss of life and the ship that was touted as being virtually unsinkable are forever etched on the pages of history. Too, those pages testify as to the obvious fate of the over 1,500 passengers and crew who went to the bottom of the North Atlantic with her.

What has not been as obvious is what happened to the 712 passengers and crew members who survived that fateful voyage. Not anymore! The “New exclusive ‘Survivors’ Wall of Stories,’ at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson” presents, all in one place, information about the “the individual journeys of each of the survivors” after that fateful night.

On a daily basis, the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction, provides its “passengers” with an exciting opportunity to experience what it was like aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Among the many things woven into the exciting and educational experience are “400 artifacts directly from the ship,” a chance to walk up an exact full size reproduction of the ships Grand Staircase, feel first-hand what 28 degree water feels like, experience what the passengers and crew experienced as they tried to stand on the sloping decks of the ship as she sank and so much more.

A standard part of the Branson Titanic experience, ever since it first opened, is to give each passenger a Boarding Pass, with the name and information about one of the passengers or crew members who were on board the Titanic when she sank. This personalizes the experience for the “passenger” as they go through the museum as well as giving them an opportunity to see whether or not “they” survived by checking their name in the “Memorial Gallery,” which lists all passengers and crew members and whether or not they survived.

Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, the co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction with her husband John, said “So many guests ask us, ‘What happened to our passenger that survived on our boarding pass?’” She explained that until now there was no exhibit answering that question and they were answered by the crew members and staff of the Titanic on an individual basis based on available information. “Now, for the first time in the world, after two years of research, we have been able to put their lives together after they reached New York City almost 100 years ago,” she continued.

The research included contacting “Titanic Historical Societies around the world,” to get the information and documentation to tell the survivors stories. The result is an exclusive new exhibit for the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction that is the most complete public exhibit of information in the world telling what happened to the Titanic Survivors after they arrived in New York after being rescued.

The unique “Survivors’ Wall of Stories,” presents a picture, where available, and the stories of the vast majority of the 712 survivors, divided just as they were aboard the Titanic on their voyage, 201 from First Class, 118 from Second Class, 181 from Third Class and 212 Crew Members. Within each of those categories, the information is presented and sorted alphabetically. As of this date, out of the 712 survivors, the “Survivors’ Wall of Stories,” has information on all except for except for about 30.

Joslyn points out that the research is ongoing and that the exhibit will be updated with new information as it becomes available. As an example, she explains that six of the survivors were Chinese men and there is no record of what happened after they returned to their country. After visiting the museum, the Chinese government is now going to take part in helping to find out what happened to the Chinese survivors.

She said that the “Survivors’ Wall of Stories,” is just one example of how things are constantly changing at the museum to keep it fresh and exciting so that its guests always have a fresh new experience every time they visit. For additional information on the Titanic Museum Attraction or tickets for any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

*Picture courtesy of Branson Titanic Museum Atraction