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23 Facts You May Not Know About The 'Titanic'

Matthew Cole Weiss
Updated December 15, 2022 2.9M views 24 items

In the early morning of April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank into the North Atlantic Ocean. Just four days into the ship's journey, this massive ocean liner collided with an iceberg, which lead to the loss of most patrons and crew members on board a few hours later. Poor lifeboat management, combined with the lack of a nearby ship, led to one of the biggest disasters of all time, and the wreckage of the ship still exists on the bottom of the ocean floor today.   

Most people's knowledge of the Titanic comes from the Leonardo DiCaprio/Kate Winslet film, but the film generated many myths about the Titanic because the movie missed plenty of information and got other things  wrong. For instance, did you know the Titanic was the first ship to feature a heated swimming pool onboard?

This list includes some lesser-known fun facts about the Titanic. For instance, newspapers originally reported that there were no casualties. The list goes on and on, so check out our fun facts about the Titanic below.

  • On The Morning Of The Accident, A Lifeboat Drill Was Canceled

    On The Morning Of The Accident, A Lifeboat Drill Was Canceled

    The lifeboat situation was pretty dire when the Titanic went sank. Some boats left early, with room for more passengers onboard, due to extreme panic and confusion. This could have been avoided if the scheduled lifeboat drill for that morning had not been canceled. It remains unclear clear why the drill was canceled.

  • A Handwritten Letter From The Day Of The Accident Still Exists

    A Handwritten Letter From The Day Of The Accident Still Exists

    After over 100 years, the last surviving handwritten letter composed on Titanic letterhead resurfaced for an auction. Esther Hart and her daughter, Eva, wrote a letter to Esther's mother about the wonderful journey they were taking together on the Titanic. Although her husband was tragically killed that day, Esther and Eva survived. They kept the letter in the family for decades, until it went up for auction in England and sold for around $200,000 in 2014.

  • All Of The Third-Class Passengers Shared Two Bathtubs

    All Of The Third-Class Passengers Shared Two Bathtubs

    The third-class accommodations on the ship were, needless to say, less glamorous than those in first class. While the third-class bunk beds included mattresses, blankets, and, pillows, they lacked sheets and pillowcases. And only two bathtubs served all 700+ third-class passengers. Can you imagine waiting your turn to take a bath at the end of a 450-person line?

  • Three Dogs Made It Onto The Lifeboats

    Three Dogs Made It Onto The Lifeboats

    Although nine dogs passed away aboard the Titanic, three lucky pups somehow made it onto a lifeboat - two Pomeranians and one Pekinese. One of the dogs that survived belonged to Harper & Row publishing heir Henry Harper. When asked why he saved his dog over other people, he replied, "There seemed to be lots of room, and nobody made any objection."

  • The 'Titanic' Had Its Own Daily Newspaper

    The 'Titanic' Had Its Own Daily Newspaper

    The Titanic featured its own newspaper, called the Atlantic Daily Bulletin. The paper was printed each day onboard the Titanic. It included news and society gossip, horse racing results, and stock prices.

  • There Was A Closer Rescue Ship

    There Was A Closer Rescue Ship

    Although the Carpathia eventually came to the Titanic's rescue, there was a closer ship that would have been more ideal for a rescue mission. The Californian and her Captain, Stanley Lord, were stuck in an ice field themselves, and tried warning other ships. Allegedly, the Titanic told them to "shut up." Officers on the Californian eventually saw the flare signals from the Titanic, but dismissed them as friendly signals between ships in the same company.