The legendary Titanic sank deep into the ocean over 100 years ago, taking with it countless mysteries and tragic stories.
Little-known Facts About the Titanic
- 1. 700 third-class passengers had to share two bathtubs
- 2. The ship’s band played music until the last moment
- 3. A survivor made a film about the tragedy
- 4. The crew had no binoculars to spot icebergs
- 5. The Titanic faced tragedy from the beginning
- 6. The wealthiest person aboard also lost their life
- 7. All engineers on the Titanic perished
- 8. At least 13 couples honeymooned on the Titanic
- 9. The 1997 film’s budget exceeded the actual cost of building the Titanic
- 10. All third-class passengers shared two bathtubs
- 11. Cheese from the Titanic is still edible
- 12. Game of Thrones was filmed where the Titanic was built
- 13. The story of the Navratil brothers
- 14. The last survivor died in 2009
The Titanic was built in 1909 and launched in 1912 as a ship of The White Star Line (UK). It was designed with the ambition of being the largest, most modern, and most luxurious ship in the world at that time. However, during its maiden voyage, the Titanic met with tragedy and sank to the ocean floor, resulting in the most severe maritime disaster in peacetime. While we all know about the Titanic’s tragedy, there are many interesting facts that you might not be aware of:
1. 700 third-class passengers had to share two bathtubs
Not all areas of the Titanic were as luxurious as depicted in the films.
The film Titanic made the third-class cabin seem like a luxurious place. Although, in many respects, the third-class accommodations on the Titanic—at that time the most prestigious ship in the world—were still much better than those on a regular ship, they were quite basic compared to the Titanic itself. The total number of third-class passengers ranged from 700 to 1,000, and they had to share two bathtubs throughout the journey.
2. The ship’s band played music until the last moment
All band members stayed behind, playing music and sinking with the ship.
This detail was featured in the film Titanic. To try and calm the passengers, the band continued to perform, even as death loomed. According to witnesses, they played music for over two hours after the ship collided with the iceberg.
3. A survivor made a film about the tragedy
The silent film recounting the actress’s own experience.
Actress Dorothy Gibson, a survivor of the Titanic, starred in the film “Saved From the Titanic,” which accurately portrayed the disaster. The film was released just a month after the ship sank, in May 1912. She even wore the same outfit she had on the day of her escape.
4. The crew had no binoculars to spot icebergs
Not spotting the iceberg in time was the reason for the tragedy.
The observations by the crew on the ship relied entirely on their eyesight because the ship’s binoculars were locked away in a cabinet for which no one could find the key. The lookouts on the ship—Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee—were unable to access the binoculars during the entire journey, making it impossible to see far ahead.
The reason they lacked the key was that the ship’s second officer was replaced at the last minute. This person forgot to hand over the key to the cabinet containing the ship’s binoculars. The historical key was auctioned in 2010 and sold for over $130,000.
5. The Titanic faced tragedy from the beginning
The Titanic and its sister ship, the Olympic, were built in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
It wasn’t just when it struck the iceberg that the Titanic claimed lives. Long before that, eight people had died during the construction of the ship, but only five of them are known: Samuel Scott, John Kelly, William Clarke, James Dobbin, and Robert Murphy.
6. The wealthiest person aboard also lost their life
Portrait of John Jacob Astor IV.
John Jacob Astor IV was a billionaire who boarded the ill-fated ship. He was not only the richest on the Titanic but was also considered one of the wealthiest people in the world at the time, with an estimated fortune of about $150 million, equivalent to $3.5 billion today.
Astor was on the ship returning home after a month-long honeymoon with his newlywed wife, Madeleine Talmage Force, who was 18 years old, 28 years younger than him. His body was one of the few found in the Atlantic after the ship’s disaster. Among other possessions, $2,440 was found in his pocket (about $60,000 today).
7. All engineers on the Titanic perished
Memorial for the Titanic engineers in Southampton, England.
The lights on the Titanic only went out when the ship had completely sunk into the icy waters, due to the tireless efforts of the engineers on board, who stayed behind to keep the electricity and pumps running while the ship sank. They also maintained the distress signal transmitter until just minutes before the ship went down. None of the 25 engineers survived.
8. At least 13 couples honeymooned on the Titanic
John Jacob Astor IV and his new wife, Madeleine, on their honeymoon.
According to the book Titanic Love Stories, at least 13 couples honeymooned on the ship.
9. The 1997 film’s budget exceeded the actual cost of building the Titanic
Illustration depicting the sinking of the ship.
Everyone knows that the Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ship at the time of its launch. It was estimated to have cost about $7.5 million in 1912, equivalent to about $220 million today. Meanwhile, the budget for the blockbuster 1997 film was $200 million, roughly equivalent to about $360 million today.
10. All third-class passengers shared two bathtubs
Although third-class passengers on the Titanic had better accommodations than those on other ships, the amenities they received were still quite poor compared to today. According to ABC News, the number of passengers in third class on the Titanic was around 700 to 1,000. However, all these passengers had to share just two bathtubs instead of having private bathrooms like those in more luxurious cabins.
11. Cheese from the Titanic is still edible
When the wreck of the Titanic was discovered, most food that sank with it many years prior had completely decomposed. However, according to some sources, a small amount of cheese hidden in the pantry long ago could still be used.
“Some types of food, such as cheese, are protected from decay due to the activity of microorganisms that initiate the decomposition process. If kept in a container, it can remain in good condition for an extended period,” said microbiologist Holger W. Jannasch.
12. The Game of Thrones Filming Location: The Same Place as the Titanic
Few people know that the RMS Titanic was actually built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Coincidentally, the television series Game of Thrones was primarily filmed at various locations throughout Northern Ireland, including the Paint Hall studio in Belfast, a former industrial complex and shipyard that was repurposed as a film and television production facility.
13. The Story of the Navratil Brothers
Michel and Edmond Navratil were two brothers kidnapped by their own father. The boys were taken aboard the Titanic to start a new life in America without their mother. After the tragedy struck the ship, the brothers, aged just 2 and 4 at the time, were fortunate enough to be among the survivors and were eventually reunited with their mother when their images appeared in a newspaper.
14. The Last Survivor Passed Away in 2009
The Last Witness of the Titanic
Millvina Dean was just a 2-month-old baby in 1912 when the ship sank. She was rescued while wrapped in a burlap sack and lowered into a lifeboat. Millvina was the last survivor of the Titanic and passed away in 2009 at the age of 97.
