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10 Facts About the Titanic You Probably Didn't Know

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On April 15, 1912, the Titanic entered history as one of the most notorious disasters at sea when the unsinkable ship struck an iceberg. The ship sank just four days into its maiden voyage, but it made an indelible impression on the minds of the world. Get ready to brush up on your trivia and learn more about the story of the Titanic.

The Ship Struck the Iceberg 37 Second After the Crew Spotted It

The Titanic's crew received warnings of icebergs in the area as early as April 14, but they ignored them. By the time they could actually see them protruding from the surface of the ocean, it was too late. The ship struck the iceberg 37 seconds after the spotting and didn't have enough time to turn around the ship.

The Closest Ship Never Heard the Distress Call

The SS California was fairly close to the Titanic, but the crew never knew there was trouble. It's radio operator was sleeping when the SOS calls came in. It took four hours for the next closest ship, the SS Carpathia to arrive at the scene.

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Passengers Received Their Last Rites

Father Thomas Byles twice turned down the opportunity to escape on a life boat. Instead, he stayed on the ship and gave last rites to the passengers. The priest spent the remaining moments of his life listening to the confessions of strangers.

Only Three of the Smokestacks Worked

The Titanic was an impressive ship with four smokestacks rising from the upper deck. Only three of the smokestacks actually worked. The fourth was there for show because the builders thought it gave the ship a more striking appearance. Look closely enough at photos of the ship in movement, and you can spot the smokeless fake.

Rescuers Recovered Only 306 Bodies

More than 1500 people died on the Titanic, but rescuers recovered only 306 bodies. Those bodies went to Canada where family members came to identify them. The rest of the victims went down with the ship and found their final resting place at the bottom of the ocean.

The Ship Had 20 Lifeboats

Before leaving Europe, crew members decided to remove some of the lifeboats to give first class passengers more room to roam on the deck. The ship had 20 lifeboats available when it set sail. Each boat could hold 64 passengers, but most of them left the ship at half the capacity. The first lifeboat contained only 28 passengers as it rowed away from the sinking ship.

One of the Richest Men in the World Died on the Ship

John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest men in the world, was a passenger on the Titanic. When he and his wife attempted to get escape in a lifeboat, the crew turned him away. His wife survived, but Astor was forced to stay on the ship. Rescuers recovered his lifeless body within a few days.

The Decor Was Modeled After a London Hotel

The lavish interior of the Titanic wasn't an accident. It was loosely inspired by The Ritz London. Rich mahogany furniture with intricately carved details and fine tapestry filled the first-class rooms. Even the white paneled walls in the third-class sections of the ship were beautiful.

The Ship Had More Than 2200 Passengers

Officials had trouble identifying the survivors and victims of the shipwreck. They knew there were more than 2300 passengers on board, but many of them traveled under assumed names or with false documents. As a result, the death toll is just an estimate.

Crew Members Really Thought the Ship Was Unsinkable

Even though the ship struck an iceberg, the crew didn't react immediately. They believed the reports that the ship was unsinkable and didn't start the evacuation until an hour later. Had they not been so confident, they may have been able to save a few more lives.