The Titanic

The Titanic was the biggest ship in the world when it was built. It set sail from England to New York in April 1912. People called it unsinkable. But on its very first trip, it hit an iceberg. The ship sank and over 1,500 people lost their lives.

A Fancy Ship

The Titanic was like a floating hotel. It had fancy rooms, a swimming pool, and nice restaurants. Rich people paid a lot of money to ride on it. Poor people traveled in simpler rooms below. Over 2,200 people were on board.

The giant ocean ship Titanic floats in the water.
The giant ocean ship Titanic floats in the water. (Boris Lux / Wikimedia Commons)

The Night It Sank

Late at night on April 14, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg. The ship slowly filled with water. There were not enough lifeboats for everyone. Another ship came to help, but many people had already been lost. The ship broke in half and sank to the ocean floor.

Fun Facts

  • The Titanic was about four city blocks long.
  • The wreck of the Titanic was not found until 1985, more than 70 years later.
  • The ship's band kept playing music to help keep people calm during the sinking.

Did You Know?

The Titanic lies about 12,500 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.