Remembering the Titanic

Every year, we remember the sinking of RMS Titanic on April 15.

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England. While en route to New York City, the ill-fated luxury liner went down in the North Atlantic (400 miles south of Newfoundland’s Grand Banks) after striking an iceberg. More than 1,500 lives were lost. The ship, thought to be “unsinkable” by its designers, carried only 20 lifeboats for over 2,000 passengers and crew.

Built by Hardland and Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the White Star Line, Titanic carried several of the wealthiest and most influential people of its time. Some passengers included owners of Macy’s department store, Isidor and Ida Strauss, and business tycoon Benjamin Guggenheim. Among the most opulent vessels ever constructed, the mystique of Titanic‘s tragic demise captured the world’s attention and has continued to live in our imaginations like no other ship in history. As one of the biggest peacetime disasters in maritime history, her sinking has been the subject of eight Hollywood films along with numerous books and television shows.

Titanic‘s last port of call was Cobh (formerly known as Queenstown), Ireland. Today, visitors experience the sights and sounds of where the majestic ship once stopped with a specialized walking tour along the Titanic Trail. But perhaps one of the most sought-after experiences is the world-leading attraction, Titanic Belfast, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Construction on the ship began in Belfast in 1909. Today, visitors can learn the history of this world-famous ocean liner while seeing the shipyard, original artifacts and the last remaining White Star vessel and Titanic‘s original tender ship, the SS Nomadic.