10 things you may not know about the Titanic
105 years ago, the ocean liner sank into the Atlantic, taking the lives of more than 1,500 people
105 years ago, the ocean liner sank into the Atlantic, taking the lives of more than 1,500 people
105 years ago, the ocean liner sank into the Atlantic, taking the lives of more than 1,500 people
Saturday marks the 105th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg 20 minutes before midnight.
More than 1,500 passengers perished in the early morning hours of April 15, leaving 717 survivors. The ship carried some of the world's wealthiest people, along with hundreds of immigrants from Ireland, Great Britain, Scandinavia and other European countries.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the Titanic that you may not know:
1. The sinking of the ship is still considered one of the deadliest commercial maritime disasters ever. It's surpassed by the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German military transport ship that reported 9,400 casualties after being hit by a Soviet Navy submarine during World War II, and the Doña Paz, a ferry that took around 4,386 lives and holds the record for the largest non-military loss ever.
2. Titanic was discovered more than 70 years after its wreck at a depth of 12,415 feet, split into two pieces.
3. Titanic was 882 feet 9 inches long and 104 feet high, measured from the base of the keel to the top of the bridge. She weighed 52,310 tons.
4. The ship had three engines that were heated by more than 600 tons of coal daily. The coal had to be shoveled in by hand, requiring the help of 176 "stokers." One hundred tons of ash were dumped into the ocean per day.
5. The ship's rudder was so large - 78 feet 8 inches high and 15 feet 3 inches long - that it required steering engines to move it. It weighed more than 100 tons.
6. Titanic accommodated 833 first class passengers, 614 second class passengers and 1,006 third class passengers. It could also hold more than 900 crew members.
7. Baggage from first and second class passengers took up 19,455 cubic feet. Items like furniture, food and even motor vehicles occupied additional space. The most valuable item onboard was "La Circassienne au Bain," an oil painting by French artist Merry-Joseph Blondel, worth $100,000 at the time.
8. First class passengers had access to on-board telephones, a library, darkroom for developing photos, squash court, Turkish bath, steam room, massage room, reception room, reading room, restaurant, cafe, dining saloon and more. The dining saloon was the largest room onboard and could fit nearly 600 people.
9. Third class passengers had access to their own dining room and public gathering spaces. While their accommodations weren't as luxurious as first class quarters, they were considered above average at the time.
10. About 885 crew members were recruited for the Titanic's maiden voyage. Most ships didn't have permanent crews at the time, and the unsinkable ship was no different. Edward Smith, captain of the Olympic, another White Star liner, was at the Titanic's helm during its first and last voyage.