Titanic (disambiguation) facts for kids

The word Titanic most often refers to two big things. First, it's about the famous ship, the RMS Titanic. This huge ship sank on its very first trip in 1912. Second, it can mean the popular movie from 1997, also called Titanic. This movie tells a story that happens on that same ship.

The Amazing RMS Titanic Ship

The RMS Titanic was a very large and luxurious passenger ship. People called it "unsinkable" because of its advanced design. It was built in Belfast, Ireland, by a company called Harland and Wolff. The ship was meant to be the best way to travel across the Atlantic Ocean.

Building a Giant Ship

Building the Titanic was a huge project. It took about three years to finish. Thousands of workers helped build this massive vessel. The ship was over 882 feet (269 meters) long. That's longer than three football fields! It was also very tall, standing as high as an 11-story building. The Titanic was designed to be the most luxurious ship ever. It had fancy dining rooms, swimming pools, and grand staircases.

The Maiden Voyage

The Titanic began its first journey on April 10, 1912. It sailed from Southampton, England. Its destination was New York City, in the United States. Many people were excited to be on this famous ship. There were about 2,200 passengers and crew members on board. Some were very rich, traveling in first class. Others were immigrants hoping for a new life in America.

The Tragic Night

Four days into its trip, on April 14, 1912, disaster struck. The Titanic was sailing through the cold North Atlantic Ocean. Late at night, the ship hit a giant iceberg. The iceberg scraped along the side of the ship. This caused several large holes below the waterline. Water began to flood into the ship's compartments.

The crew soon realized the ship was in serious trouble. They sent out distress signals for help. Sadly, there were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. The ship's designers believed it would never sink. Because of this, they did not include enough lifeboats for all passengers.

Rescue and Aftermath

The Titanic slowly began to sink. Many people tried to get into the lifeboats. Women and children were put into the lifeboats first. The ship went down completely in the early hours of April 15. It broke into two main pieces as it sank. Over 1,500 people lost their lives that night.

The ship RMS Carpathia arrived a few hours later. It rescued about 700 survivors from the lifeboats. The sinking of the Titanic shocked the world. It led to many changes in maritime safety rules. New laws were made to ensure ships had enough lifeboats. Also, ships had to maintain a 24-hour radio watch.

Finding the Wreck

For many years, the exact location of the Titanic's wreck was a mystery. In 1985, a team led by Robert Ballard finally found it. The ship's remains lie on the ocean floor. It is about 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) deep. The wreck is slowly decaying, but it remains a powerful reminder of the tragedy.

The "Titanic" Movie (1997)

The story of the Titanic has inspired many books and movies. One of the most famous is the 1997 film called Titanic. This movie was directed by James Cameron. It became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

A Blockbuster Film

The 1997 Titanic movie starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. They played the main characters, Jack and Rose. The film was a huge success around the world. It won many awards, including 11 Academy Awards. This tied the record for the most Oscars won by a single film.

Story and Impact

The movie tells a fictional love story between Jack and Rose. Their romance unfolds during the Titanic's maiden voyage. The film blends this fictional story with the real events of the ship's sinking. It shows the luxury of the ship and the terror of the disaster. The movie helped many people learn about the Titanic's history. It also showed the human stories behind the tragedy.