By Sara Evans
Walking into a fairly generic office building on West 57th Street in Manhattan feels ordinary enough. However, once you check your coat, hand over your ticket, and walk through an old oak door, everything changes. Instantly, you enter an alternate universe: the magical world of Downton Abbey.
Mourning the End of an Era
Six compelling seasons finally ended. After that, millions of fans around the globe went into mourning. Naturally, we wondered about the future of the characters we loved—or loathed.
We immersed ourselves in Julian Fellowes’ brilliant drama. Specifically, the show created a pastiche of British life spanning from 1912 to 1926. Consequently, we wanted to live in beautiful Highclere Castle. We longed to roam its green fields. We even wished for our own cooks, butlers, and lady’s maids.
For six seasons, their lives became our lives. Creator Julian Fellowes supervised with a demanding eye. Under his watch, each character evolved until we knew them personally.
The Characters We Loved
For example, we had crushes on the debonair Lord Grantham. We also admired his elegant American wife, Lady Cora. Furthermore, we understood the tensions among their three daughters. We watched the imperious Lady Mary, the unfortunate Lady Edith, and the ill-fated Lady Sibyl.
Above all, we adored Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, Violet Crawley. We loved her forked tongue and unforgettable utterances like: “What is a weekend?”
However, the “Upstairs” aristocrats were not the only ones to captivate us. The “Downstairs” servants held our rapt attention too. We missed them all, from the indomitable Mrs. Patmore to the gentle Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition Experience
“Downton Abbey: The Exhibition” is a beautifully realized multimedia experience. Not only does it let visitors revisit a popular series, but it also brings history to life.
Specifically, visitors see actual antiques, furnishings, and costumes from the show. We see wedding gowns, uniforms, and men’s haberdashery. Through these exquisitely crafted items, we view the passage of time.
Stepping Into the Sets
Staff welcome us to Downton. Then, the exhibit projects us through scenarios filled with artifacts. First, we see Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen, with its gleaming copper pots. Amazingly, it features a Belfast sink with running water. We see eggs waiting for soufflés and piles of vegetables from the garden.
In contrast, the dining room boasts family portraits and a perfectly set table. It features silver candelabra, bone china, and sparkling crystal. This scene contrasts sharply with the servants’ dining hall. Although stark, the hall features an upright piano where the crew entertained themselves.
A Journey Through History
We get to ogle Lady Mary’s bedroom. We also experience World War I, when Downton’s fortunes began their downward spiral. Moreover, visitors can open drawers filled with documents, letters, and land deeds.
NBCUniversal and Imagine Exhibitions produced this immersive show. Viking Cruises sponsors the beautifully curated event. Ultimately, it gives us an excuse to escape our difficult world for a few hours. It takes us back to a history that is cultural, chronological, and social.
Why You Must Visit
The periods Julian Fellowes chose were ones of amazing turmoil. The timeline spans from the sinking of the Titanic to the rule of Edward VII, through the trauma of the War to End All Wars, to the coming of modern Britain.
Due to astonishing attendance and demand, this wonderful exhibition has been extended. To visitors from all over the globe, the Downton Abbey Exhibition demonstrates how the intricate interplay of place, time, and humans morphs across the landscape to hold our imaginations.
