A Gentleman's Bowler Hat
Times have significantly changed, and fashion has changed, too. Back in the days of the Titanic, it wasn't uncommon for men to wear hats, especially to dinner. The amazing thing about this hat is that it was found on the ocean floor 81 years after the Titanic sank. While it understandably shows signs of damage, it is in incredible condition, considering how much time it spent in the water.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of hats among men at that time, it was impossible to know who the hat belonged to. It has been said that the hat's owner is suspected to have passed away on the Titanic.
A Beautiful Personalized Bracelet
Every person who has watched James Cameron's blockbuster movie Titanic knows the importance of jewelry in the plot of the film. That is why it is fascinating that divers discovered a 15-carat gold bracelet with the name Amy on it. Sadly, even though the name is proudly displayed on the item, its owner of the bracelet was never found. Until today, the mystery of who Amy could have been lives on.
The bracelet was found inside a suitcase, but the luggage gave equally little information as to who our mystery woman might have been.
A Woman's Handbag Made of Leather
Marion Meanwell's life took an unfortunate turn when her original ship trip was canceled. Desperate to visit her daughter in the US, Marion bought a ticket for the Titanic. Sadly, with the sinking of the ship, she never made it to her daughter. Divers found her bag, and researchers helped to solve the puzzle of who the bag belonged to. Her handbag was returned to her daughter, which hopefully brought her family some comfort.
The bag contained only a travel permit for a canary, her landlord's letter, and her marriage certificate. Marion traveled as a third-class passenger, and unfortunately, she went down with the ship.
Playing Cards
The Titanic was a scene set for the rich and stylish, but some of the items found on board could've belonged to any of the passengers in all the different classes. For example, this set of playing cards recovered from deep in the wreckage. We can picture anyone, from first-class to third-class passengers, using this set on deck to play with friends, new and old.
It's wild how these three set of simple, otherwise normal cards lived through one of the most iconic moments in modern history.
A Toolmaker's Boots
Here is yet another tale of someone who hoped to begin a new life in America. William Henry Allen was a toolmaker from England. He hoped for a better life, so he stepped onto the Titanic. He was so desperate to improve his quality of life that he left his wife and children behind. Sadly, they never saw him again. Divers found quite a selection of William's belongings, including clothes and letters.
A pair of William's boots were also found in the wreckage. Of all his belongings, the boots remained in the best condition. The 39-year-old was only trying to follow his dreams, but it wasn't meant to be.
A Frozen Pocket Watch
Imagine freezing the second of impact. Well, that is what this pocket watch did, in a way. When the ship hit the iceberg, it started filling with water - and quickly. It was precisely 1:45 in the morning when the water flooded the parts of the ship where the passengers were. Sadly, that was the time that the pocket watch froze. The watch belonged to a guest called John Chapman. Unfortunately, neither he nor his wife survived the disaster. The pocket watch was later found on John Chapman's person.
While the watch is a reminder of a tragic event, it is incredible that it perfectly recorded that moment when things began to spiral downwards.
62 Perfect Perfume Vials
Perfume has always been associated with class and luxury, so it isn't all that surprising that perfume vials were discovered in the wreck. The surprising thing was the amount of perfume vials, a whopping 62 tiny perfume tubes. Why would someone travel with that much perfume, you might wonder. Well, the vials belonged to a perfume manufacturer called Adolph Saalfeld. Perhaps he had plans to expand his fabulous enterprise. The vials were filled with Edwardian fragrance.
Adolph was one of the lucky survivors of the Titanic, but he lost his vials when the ship went down. Considering he got to keep his life, we're sure he has no regrets.
A Precious Love Letter
Imagine being on the Titanic and experiencing the glitz and glamor of the world's most opulent cruise ship before disaster strikes. It is only natural that romantics would want to share this experience with those they love the most. A beautifully written love letter was found in the wreckage. Richard Geddes wrote the letter, and while he didn't make it out of the wreckage, we're sure their love remained forever.
The letter was written four days before the Titanic hit the iceberg. Surprisingly, in it, Richard shared his fears of a near-hit the day before. Little did he know the worst was yet to come.
Still-Sealed Bottle of Champagne
The Titanic had passengers of all walks of life and socioeconomic status. But it's no secret that the most famous passengers from the iconic ship were those who were wealthy and traveling in first class. So it should be no surprise that the cruise was stocked up on plenty of champagne for their fancy, high-end passengers. But who would've guessed that one of those bottles would be recovered decades later?
Not only was it recovered, but it was still completely sealed! We're sure this is set up in a museum, but there is some billionaire out there trying to get his hands on it to finally pop that cork!
Paper Money and Coins
It is no secret that the Titanic was a playground for the rich, glamorous, and famous. As a result, it isn't surprising that money was found on the ship. The cash, however, shares a fascinating peek into what currency looked like in 1912. The money belonged to Eufaula Banks. Notes and coins were also found, but, of course, it would be impossible to know who the money belonged to.
The money was found in a leather bag. Among the paper money was a $5 note that was still in incredible condition. While it had some watermarks, it offers excellent insight into bills of the past.
The Last Meal's Menu
An extravagant journey is only complete with the world's best restaurant on board. Luckily, this was not a concern for passengers enjoying a first-class experience, as the Titanic's restaurant was regarded as one of the best. The last meal served on the Titanic included lamb, filet mignon, and salmon. It is clear that great dining was definitely a priority for the guests of the Titanic. The menu was retrieved from the wreck and has been kept safe for many years.
The menu is a timeless reminder of the level of comfort and indulgence that the ship offered to its first-class guests. What a pity it ended so unexpectedly.
A Wonderfully Pressed Wool Vest
The Titanic passengers took their appearances seriously. A woolen vest still in perfectly pressed condition was found after the Titanic sank. It is said to have belonged to a third-class passenger named William Henry Allen. From how the vest was kept formally pressed, we can only assume that Mr. Allen planned to wear it to dinner one night. Unfortunately, he never got the chance. This is a message to the rest of us to live in the moment and enjoy it fully.
The vest was one of the Titanic artifacts auctioned off in 2012. Enthusiasts were willing to pay top dollar for an authentic artifact of the Titanic at the Guernsey Auction.
A Kind Stranger's Fur Coat
This coat is a remarkable artifact because of the kindness that it represents. A first-class guest, Mabel, was in her nightgown when the Titanic began to sink. Naturally, her survival instinct kicked in, and she got on a lifeboat without any warm clothes. A kind stranger gave her the coat so that she wouldn't freeze to death. The coat is made of beaver fur, so it probably kept the traumatized woman warm until she was rescued. While there was chaos around her, she got to keep herself warm thanks to the coat owner's generosity.
Years later, this coat was auctioned off at a high price of $177,000. It is a fashionable reminder that kindness is what makes us human.
A Broken Clarinet
There is no denying that music was a massive part of the Titanic experience. Guests were entertained by the band during meals every day and night. A clarinet that had suffered great water damage was found in the wreckage. Naturally, it isn't possible to know whether this was a guest's beloved instrument or if it belonged to a band member. Regardless, we know it sadly didn't belong to a survivor.
Reportedly, the band played a song called Nearer My God to Thee as the ship sank, and not one of the band members managed to survive. Many passengers were moved by their actions, and the band members are regarded as heroes.
Hair Pins and a Purse
True to the passengers of the Titanic, keeping your appearance perfect at all times mattered greatly. This was true until the moment the ship began to sink. Therefore, it isn't surprising that many artifacts that were used to create beautiful hairstyles were found. Amongst them were hair pins and a woman's purse. These were never claimed, so it's only natural to assume their owner wasn't lucky enough to make it out alive.
These artifacts are reminders that when things began to go wrong, it really didn't matter if you were stylish and rich or poor with little to your name.
A Life Vest
When you really think about the history behind each of the items on this list, the story behind this one might be the most heartbreaking. While we don't know whose lifevest this was, we do know that there were plenty of passengers who didn't get one of these precious, life-saving gadgets. If there had been more of these flotation devices on board, more people might have been able to survive.
Then again, the waters were freezing cold, so anyone not on a lifeboat was in danger of dying from the cold. No matter how you look at it, the photo below represents a sad part of history.
A Cracked, Open Porthole
It is hard to imagine the chaos surrounding the sinking of the Titanic. It's crazy to think that the water pressure must have been enough to crack the portholes of the ship and remove one completely. The porthole was later discovered among the artifacts in the sand surrounding the sunken ship. Scientists believe that the portholes opened when the ship began to sink, causing it to sink even faster as water streamed in.
Amazingly, divers have found nearly 6,000 Titanic artifacts on the ocean floor. These artifacts give us a welcome glimpse into a horrifying day for more than 2,200 people.
Keys That Saved Countless Lives
When the Titanic began to sink, Samuel Hemming became the most powerful man on the boat. You might be wondering why. Well, he held the keys to all the lifeboats that were stored below deck. He had three keys in his possession, and he had to risk his life to unlock the gates that kept the lifeboats safe. Luckily, Samuel managed to survive this terrifying event and gave access to many of the boats that saved the lives of dozens of passengers.
Mr. Hemming kept all three keys in his possession until he died. In 2016, the three keys were auctioned off at a phenomenal $100,000.
Binoculars That Didn't Change Fate
The irony of these binoculars is probably not lost on any Titanic fans. The sad reality is that the ship had a pair of fully functioning binoculars below the crow's deck. The binoculars could have helped avoid the crash into the iceberg if the crew had access to them. On such a clear night, the iceberg would have been easy to spot. However, fate had other plans. They were locked up, and no one on board had the key.
The man in charge of the keys, David Blair, was urgently transferred just before the Titanic set sail. Mr. Blair should have handed the keys over before he left.
A Violin From the Ship's Sinking
We all know that music tends to make things better. While no one can deny that things weren't great as the Titanic was sinking, the fact that the band kept playing is a sweet reminder of the power of music and passion. Nearly 100 years after the Titanic's demise, a violin owned by Wallace Hartley was discovered in Britain. Wallace was the leader of the band, and while he sadly passed away the night that the ship sank, his violin was recovered.
It is said that Wallace still had his violin case on his back when his body was found. Since he had been playing the violin as the ship sank, it is safe to say that he was doing what he loved at the end.
A First-Class Chandelier
There is something extraordinary about a chandelier that just screams first-class luxury. Therefore, it is only natural that a ship as pristine as the Titanic had a chandelier in the dining space of the first-class hall. This chandelier was later found on the ocean floor. Scientists believe that the chandelier broke free from the ceiling on impact and floated out of the wreck. It is a beautiful golden chandelier.
In 2012, the chandelier was put up for auction and now belongs to a private collector. This is not the only artifact that belongs to a private collector. These enthusiasts are willing to spend big to acquire these artifacts.
A Hero's Whistle
When times are tough, real heroes shine. This was the case with Harold Lowe. He was a fifth officer on the Titanic, and the whistle belonged to him. On the night the Titanic hit the iceberg, Lowe helped passengers get into one of the lifeboats. He also tried his best to save people who weren't strong swimmers. As a result, he managed to save the 14th lifeboat full of people who might not have survived without him.
While the whistle might not have played an essential part in the night, the owner was someone that we can all look up to.
A Precious Family Heirloom
We all know that when something is kept in the family, it remains precious forever. That is the case with this fantastic artifact from the Titanic. It is a lovely story with a sad ending, unfortunately. A young woman fell in love and was desperate to get married. Her grandmother, grandfather, mother, and aunt traveled in second class. When the Titanic sank, only the grandmother managed to make it onto a lifeboat. While it must have been torturous to leave her family behind, the grandmother survived.
In her possession, she had a precious emerald ring that she planned to give to her granddaughter on her wedding day. She got to keep her promise of bringing the special ring to her granddaughter.
A Tobacco Pipe
These days, it is widely regulated where people are allowed to smoke. However, in 1912, that wasn't the case. Most men carried tobacco pipes, and it was regarded as a gentlemanly act for men to enjoy a smoke together. That is why it isn't astonishing for the divers to have found a pipe in the wreckage. Scientists believe that the pipe would have floated out of the owner's pocket after he drowned.
Since tobacco pipes were widely standard and popular among men, it is impossible to pinpoint who the owner could have been. However, the pipe shows tobacco enthusiasts the beauty of pipes of that era.
A Plate and Cup Set
Imagine your favorite porcelain cup and saucer hitting the bottom of the ocean at an unbelievable speed. We're sure you'll be amazed if the only damage to the set is just a little crack. This is the case with a set found on the Titanic. After examining the logo on the cup and saucer, it is believed to have belonged to the third-class passengers. This is because the first-class cups and saucers were much higher quality and much more delicate. Even though the first-class cups and saucers are regarded to be much more fragile than third-class' sets, they also survived the impact superbly well.
Regardless of which class the set belonged to, the truly mind-blowing thing is that it survived the collision with only a slight crack.
The Deck Bell
If you were a guest on the Titanic, you would have heard the deck bell three times before the most undesirable event unfolded. The deck bell plays such a significant part in the Titanic's history that it will always remain a classic artifact of the ship. Interestingly, the bell has been quoted to have a much lower value than most other artifacts from the ship. Regardless, it is a crucial part of history that is proudly displayed in the Massachusetts Titanic Museum.
The deck bell remained on the wreckage for a long time before it was removed in 1987. The bell is dear to Titanic enthusiasts since it was used to warn of impending doom.
A Man's Fancy Shoes
When divers first began exploring the area around the wreckage, they found a lot of clothing, shoes, buttons, and straps spread around. This puzzled them, but it was later said that this was probably due to the massive impact of the Titanic hitting the ocean floor. It is thought that the impact was so vast that passengers' suitcases exploded, leading to their clothes and parts of their suitcases spreading beyond their original location.
This shoe has suffered some water damage, and the leather has been a victim of water bacteria, so it isn't in excellent condition. It is impossible to know who it might have belonged to.
China Cups
It is said that all guests got to use China cups while enjoying their time on the Titanic. However, there was one big difference between the cups used in the first and third classes. The first-class cups were gold and blue, while the third-class cups were white with a red star painted on them. These cups are significant indicators of excellent world-class tea that was enjoyed before it all came crashing down.
Spode China Ltd. is the company that made the cups, and they are still in the cup-making business today.
The Wallet of Mauritz Adahl
Another relic recovered in surprisingly good condition is this brown leather wallet that belonged to passenger Mauritz Adahl. The husband and father of multiple kids was traveling from Europe to Brooklyn in order to work in the USA and send money to his family. On his way there, his ticket got rebooked for the Titanic because his original ship was on a coal strike. And thus, Mauritz met his untimely demise.
It's a tragic story of a father looking to make a better life for his family, only to lose his life in the process.
Recovered Telephone
The Titanic was unlike any ship that had ever sailed up until that point. And for that reason, it required plenty of accessories that were rarely seen on ships up until then. Take, for example, this beautifully engaged telephone recovered from one of the expeditions to the famous shipwreck. It's a pretty nice piece of technology for a ship that sailed in 1912! And how lucky we are that we got to see it today.
It's wild to think about the many phonecalls and conversations that were once had on that phone, and what happened to the people involved.
A Part of the Hull
Imagine standing next to a piece of the Titanic today. Maybe if you close your eyes, you will feel the sea breeze on your face. That is why the Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibit was such a global hit. Fans from all over the world came to experience what it felt like when they stood next to a large part of the hull. Considering how much effort it took to get the hull piece out of the ocean, it's good that people appreciate it.
Due to its size and weight, there were two failed efforts to remove the giant piece of hull from the ocean. Luckily, fans are able to experience it today.
Pots, Pans, and Serving Tools From the Kitchen
The Titanic was the biggest ship to travel up until that point, which meant it had to be stocked with plenty of supplies for the multiple kitchens on the ship. Luckily for fanatics of the famous shipwreck, some of those pots, pans, and serving spoons were recovered from deep underwater in near-perfect condition. Just take a look at some of the artifacts featured in the photo below.
To be honest, these look better than some of the pots and fans we have stored in our kitchens right now. How embarrassing!
A Hebrewian Pocket Watch
This story is definitely a tearjerker. A young couple traveled on the Titanic from Russia. They had plans to settle in the US. Sinai Kantor and his wife Mirian wanted to enter the medical profession, but sadly, fate had other plans. When the ship began to sink, Sinai insisted that his wife get onto a lifeboat, but there wasn't enough space for him. As a result, Sinai drowned while his wife survived. Their story is a true testament of love and hints at being a real-life Rose and Jack love story.
He carried a unique pocket watch that had Hebrew letters instead of numbers. Rescuers found the pocket watch in his pocket when they discovered his body. It was returned to his loving wife.
Sheet Music
The Titanic epitomized luxury and class, so the entertainment had to be world-class. Guests enjoyed fantastic performances while dining; it is mind-blowing that some of the song sheets were found. Two sheets of music from the musical Madame Sherry were recovered after the ship sank. Amazingly, one of the musicians who was supposed to set sail with the Titanic couldn't make it. While he lost his partner and his luggage, he missed a certain doom.
The music that was played while the Titanic set sail will always be special to all Titanic fans, and the original music sheets can be seen at the Titanic Exhibit in Bristol.
Dining Bowls
Considering that about 1,500 people lost their lives the day the Titanic sank, it is amazing that most of the dining bowls survived in one piece. In fact, these are regarded as the best-kept artifacts recovered from the wreck. This is so extraordinary that it puzzled divers and scientists. In the end, it was stated that the bowls probably kept so well because they were packed well when the ship sank into the sand.
Divers completed many diving trips to recover the dining bowls that lay in rows spread around the wreckage. The ship must have had quite an impressive collection of bowls for so many guests.
A Letter for Mother
No matter where we go, we always carry our mothers in our hearts. First-class traveler Oskar Holverson wrote a letter to his beloved mother, not knowing that he'd never get to give it to her personally. This letter is unique because it was written on Titanic stationery, making it one of the only letters ever written on the official ship's stationery. Sadly, Mr. Holverson didn't survive, and the letter was found in his pocket. We can only hope the letter eventually found its way to his mother.
Due to its sentimental value, the letter was auctioned off in 2014 for an astonishing $166,000. The letter set a record as the only letter that made it across the North Atlantic that had been written on official Titanic stationery.
A Logometer
The art of sailing has changed a great deal over the last century. In the time of the Titanic, a logometer was used to track how fast the ship was moving. It could also help to determine the course of the ship based on this speed. These days, of course, it all happens technologically—you don't even need to know how to spell logometer to do it. Sailing enthusiasts must love seeing this part of sailing history. It can be seen in Idaho at the Discovery Center.
A mind-blowing feature of the logometer is that it recorded the Titanic's final speed just before it hit the iceberg. As a result, we know that the Titanic was moving at 268 nautical miles per hour.
A Written Retelling of Events
We all react differently when things go wrong. Some panic and scream, while others stay calm and hope for the best. A first-class guest, Doctor Washington Dodge, fell into the second category. The doctor was so calm, in fact, that he documented the events that were unfolding around him. When his notes were discovered, they were equally fascinating and spine-chilling. The doctor described the events, and as people read the notes, the events got worse and worse.
Sadly, the doctor's handwriting gets worse as the notes progress, indicating that he wasn't coping well with everything that was going on around him. The fact that the doctor decided to focus on writing down the events might illustrate a fascinating coping mechanism.
A Gorgeous Cherub
The finishing touches of a masterpiece like the Titanic are significant as they add to the glamor and luxurious feeling of the ship. The grand staircase was beautifully designed and decorated, with expertly created cherubs adding decorative flairs. A cherub of a young angel has been found and proudly displayed in Titanic exhibits. Most recently, it was part of the Titanic Exhibit at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.
Many guests must have admired this bronze cherub as they made their way down the staircase daily. It is said that it was placed where the Promenade Deck and C Deck connected.
A Wireless Telegraph System
Communication is vital at sea, and in 1912, it was very challenging to find ways to get their messages transmitted. The Titanic had a wireless telegraph system onboard, which was believed to be powerful enough to communicate with other ships for up to 1000 miles. While that was quite impressive at that time, it wasn't as great because it appeared to be quite sensitive and quickly disrupted other ships' communications.
Since the system didn't work well with communications off of the ship, passengers and crew members used it to communicate with each other. It was also successfully used a few times to send messages back to the shore.