Parks Canada and the Royal Ontario Museum are partnering to create a special exhibit about the Franklin Expedition and the discovery of the lost ship HMS Erebus. The centrepiece of the exhibit will be a 3D-printed replica of the ship's bell.

Minister of the Environment Leona Aglukkaq announced the partnership Thursday at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum.

The exhibit, called the "Franklin Outreach Project," will help bring the story of the expedition to millions of Canadians, she said.

"As someone raised in the Arctic and hearing first-hand our oral traditions, the discovery had a very deep and personal importance to me," she said. "It is the story of Inuit traditional knowledge, perseverance, teamwork and Canadian spirit.

"It is a story that has re-ignited Canadians’ passions for their own history."

In addition to the replica bell, the project will also feature pop-up displays, lectures and exhibitions, and will also have a focus on traditional Inuit knowledge.

Once opened, the exhibit will travel to across the country, giving Canadians a chance to learn more about this key part of our nation's history, Aglukkaq said.

"The discovery of this legendary vessel reveals so much about who we are as a nation and I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Royal Ontario Museum so that Canadians can be inspired by this remarkable story as it continues to unfold," she said in a statement.

Janet Carding, the CEO of the ROM, said the partnership will last for three years.

"This is a tremendous opportunity during the ROM’s Centennial year for our visitors and people across the country to learn more about one of Canada's most enduring mysteries," she said in a statement.