Image of the Titanic sinking in the ocean

A scene from the 1997 movie Titanic, one of the biggest moneymaking films of all time

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Doomed Voyage

It’s been more than 100 years since the world’s most famous ocean disaster. Why are we still fascinated by the Titanic? 

As You Read, Think About: Why might people still be so interested in the Titanic?

On April 10, 1912, thousands of people gathered at a dock in Southampton, England. They had come to see the largest ship in the world, the RMS Titanic, set sail on its first voyage. The massive ship was the length of four city blocks and was taller than most buildings at the time. It was also hailed as the safest and most luxurious ship ever built. The Titanic was expected to arrive in New York City about a week later.

But it never got there. Shortly before midnight on April 14, the Titanic crashed into an iceberg. The mountain of ice tore open the right side of the ship, and seawater began pouring in. In less than three hours, the Titanic sank to the bottom of the icy Atlantic Ocean. Of the more than 2,200 passengers and crew members on board, only about 705 survived. 

More than a century later, the tragic story of the Titanic continues to captivate everyone from kids to historians to ocean adventurers. 

“No matter who you are, what your age is or your interests, there’s something about the Titanic story that pushes one of your buttons,” Robert Ballard told Scholastic News in 2012. He’s the explorer who discovered the remains of the Titanic 73 years after the ship’s fateful voyage.

It was April 10, 1912. Thousands of people gathered at a dock in Southampton, England. They had come to see the largest ship in the world. It was called the RMS Titanic. The ship was about to set sail on its first voyage. The massive ship was the length of four city blocks. It was taller than most buildings at the time. It was also hailed as the safest and most luxurious ship ever built. The Titanic was expected to arrive in New York City about a week later.

But it never got there. Shortly before midnight on April 14, the Titanic crashed into an iceberg. The mountain of ice tore open the right side of the ship. Seawater began pouring in. In less than three hours, the Titanic sank. Of the more than 2,200 passengers and crew members on board, only about 705 survived. 

That was more than a century ago. Today the tragic story of the Titanic continues to captivate many people. That includes everyone from kids to historians to ocean adventurers. 

“No matter who you are, what your age is or your interests, there’s something about the Titanic story that pushes one of your buttons,” explorer Robert Ballard told Scholastic News in 2012. He discovered the remains of the Titanic 73 years after the ship’s fateful voyage.

Luxury at Sea

The Titanic made headlines even before it set sail. People from all walks of life were among its passengers. Immigrants eager to start a new life in the U.S. packed into the lower decks. Meanwhile, the first-class passengers included some of the world’s richest business leaders. In the days before TV and major Hollywood movies, millionaires were the biggest celebrities.

“And they went down on that ship,” Ballard said.

The Titanic made headlines even before it set sail. People from all walks of life were among its passengers. Immigrants eager to start a new life in the U.S. packed into the lower decks. Meanwhile, the first-class passengers included some of the world’s richest business leaders. These were the days before TV and major Hollywood movies. Millionaires were the biggest celebrities.

“And they went down on that ship,” Ballard said.

The Titanic’s Journey

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

1. April 10, 1912: The Titanic sets sail from Southampton, England, with about 1,800 people on board.

2. April 10: Hours later, it stops in France to pick up about 270 more passengers.

3. April 11: It stops in Ireland, where about 120 more people board.

4. April 14: The Titanic hits an iceberg. The ship sinks, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew members.

1. April 10, 1912: The Titanic sets sail from Southampton, England, with about 1,800 people on board.

2. April 10: Hours later, it stops in France to pick up about 270 more passengers.

3. April 11: It stops in Ireland, where about 120 more people board.

4. April 14: The Titanic hits an iceberg. The ship sinks, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew members.

A Big Discovery

News of the disaster stunned the world. For decades, the resting place of the ship remained a mystery. Finally, on September 1, 1985, Ballard and his team of explorers located the shipwreck. It was about 1,250 miles off the coast of New York and more than 2 miles below the surface. 

Ballard’s discovery sparked a new fascination with the Titanic. Since then, about 250 scientists and adventurers have visited the wreckage in small underwater vehicles called submersibles. Sadly, a new chapter was added to the Titanic tragedy last June, when five people died on their way to see the shipwreck. 

News of the disaster stunned the world. For decades, the resting place of the ship remained a mystery. Then Ballard and his team of explorers located the shipwreck. That was on September 1, 1985. The wreck was about 1,250 miles off the coast of New York. And it was more than 2 miles below the surface.

Ballard’s discovery sparked a new fascination with the Titanic. Since then, about 250 scientists and adventurers have visited the wreckage. They use small underwater vehicles called submersibles. Sadly, a new chapter was added to the Titanic tragedy last June. Five people died on their way to see the shipwreck. 

The Story Lives On

With each passing year, interest in the Titanic seems to grow. The tragic tale of the doomed ship continues to be told in books and movies and examined on websites and social media. It is one of the most studied, discussed, and written-about disasters in history. 

“The story of Titanic is always rediscovered by every generation,” Ballard said.

Interest in the Titanic seems to grow every year. The tragic tale of the doomed ship is still told in books and movies. It’s also examined on websites and social media. It’s one of the most studied, discussed, and written-about disasters in history.

“The story of Titanic is always rediscovered by every generation,” Ballard said.

A Ship’s Stories

People who sailed on the Titanic give us a glimpse into the disaster. 

People who sailed on the Titanic give us a glimpse into the disaster. 

ullstein bild via Getty Images; Shutterstock.com (paper)

“The Olympic is unsinkable, and the Titanic will be the same.”

—Captain Edward Smith, comparing the Titanic to its sister ship before setting sail. Smith went down with the ship.

“The Olympic is unsinkable, and the Titanic will be the same.”

—Captain Edward Smith, comparing the Titanic to its sister ship before setting sail. Smith went down with the ship.

Haldridge / Bournemouth News / Shutterstock; Shutterstock.com (paper)

“Striking the water was like a thousand knives being driven into one’s body.” 

—Second Officer Charles Lightoller, who saved dozens of people by helping them into lifeboats before he was rescued.

“Striking the water was like a thousand knives being driven into one’s body.” 

—Second Officer Charles Lightoller, who saved dozens of people by helping them into lifeboats before he was rescued.

The Granger Collection; Shutterstock.com (paper)

“Suddenly . . . the sea opened up and the surface foamed like giant arms spread around the ship.” 

—Passenger Margaret Brown, who watched the ship sink from a lifeboat. She was later given the nickname “the Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

“Suddenly . . . the sea opened up and the surface foamed like giant arms spread around the ship.” 

—Passenger Margaret Brown, who watched the ship sink from a lifeboat. She was later given the nickname “the Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

1. Based on the article, why did the Titanic make headlines even before it set sail?

2. What details in the article help you understand why the Titanic’s final resting place was a mystery for many years?

3. What are the main ideas of the section “The Story Lives On”?

1. Based on the article, why did the Titanic make headlines even before it set sail?

2. What details in the article help you understand why the Titanic’s final resting place was a mystery for many years?

3. What are the main ideas of the section “The Story Lives On”?

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