Helen Benziger and her service dog "Brojan" at the foot of the Titanic's Grand Staircase.
BRANSON, MO, June 18, 2013 – Helen Benziger, the great-granddaughter of one of the heroines of the Titanic, the “unsinkable” Margaret “Molly” Brown will be making a special two day appearance at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson on Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21. John Joslyn owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction said, “Benziger ‘s great-grandmother proved to be ‘unsinkable’ in life and on Titanic. And, as the guardian of her famed relative’s legacy, so too has her remarkable, great- granddaughter. We urge all Titanic fans to make plans to meet Helen and to hear first-hand, the real inside stories she has to tell about her bigger-than-life ancestor.”
During an interview in the Spring of 2012, when Benziger was in Branson at the Titanic Museum Attraction for the dedication of the “museum’s extensive ‘Margaret Tobin Brown Gallery’ honoring her famous ancestor,” she said that she had never met her great grandmother and that she first became interested in the Titanic when she attended the movie, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” starring Debbie Reynolds,” with her sisters and mother at the age of 13. In the movie there is a scene in a bar where Reynolds sings “Belly Up to the Bar, Boys” and, among other things, starts dancing on the bar. At that time Benziger’s mother said, “And by the way that’s you’re great grandmother.”Benziger recalled thinking “How cool was this.”
She points out that while the movie showed one side of her great grandmother’s spirit that she was actually a very sophisticated woman of great substance. She points out that she spoke five languages, played the piano like “Horowitz,” was involved in the woman’s suffrage movement and actually ran for the U.S. Senate eight years before women had the right to vote.
When asked why she believes that people are so enthralled by the Titanic she said, “If you think about it the Titanic was the absolute first global disaster. It involved people from just about every country.” She goes on to say that people seem to be able to relate to the disaster on a personal level and that when she goes through the museum and sees all the phenomenal artifacts and exhibits she sees them as a vehicle for people to understand that it’s all about the people who were on the ship.
In talking about the exhibit that has been dedicated to her great-grandmother she said, “I am just so humbled and honored that for the first time they have dedicated a room to one of the passengers and that it was my great-grandmother.” Along with items from the movie “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” the exhibit contains Benziger’s “Unsinkable Molly Brown’ Artifact Collection” featuring furniture, crystal glass ware from Ireland, artwork, photographs, Titanic memorabilia and many other treasures gathered from around the world to grace her great-grandmother’s homes which are being displayed publically for the first time.
Joslyn recommends that those interested in seeing the exclusive exhibit do so soon because it will only be on display until December 31 of this year. He reminds that those coming to the attraction on Thursday, June 20 or Friday, June 21 that they will also have the opportunity to “meet “Molly” Brown’s fascinating great-granddaughter, in person.”
For additional information or tickets for the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction, or for any of Branson’s other attractions and shows or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 1-800-785-1550 or through its website, www.BransonTourismCenter.com.