Annals Of Avarice–The Wreck Of The Titanic Is A Wreck: Explorer Robert Ballard, who discovered the location of Titanic in 1986, is back visiting the Old Girl. His purpose: to document the extensive damage that wreck visitors have done since he first found the ship. It’s not a pretty story, and depressingly predictable. Thousands of artifacts–including the ship’s bell and ship’s light–have been torn off for collection or for sale. Holes have been gouged in Titanic’s deck and hull by careless submarine operators. And garbage has been dumped all around the site. Are we a great species, or what?

You can watch Ballard’s report, Return To Titanic, on the National Geographic channel tonight at 9 pm EST. And you can read his expedition dispatches here…



Titanic Bow, 2004: At least Leo and Kate’s rail is still intact…