Shipwrecks capture the imagination more than any other piece of history. While shipwrecks tell stories of conflict and disaster, they are also a living testament to their time period. In examining shipwrecks from around the world, one can learn about the culture and values of its ill-fated crew and passengers.

RMS Titanic

The RMS Titanic is, without a doubt, the most famous shipwreck in history. Sinking on its maiden voyage on April 14, 1912, about 1,517 souls went down with the “unsinkable ship.” In the ensuing decades, countless expeditions were launched to find the Titanic, with some investors even seeking to raise the doomed liner from the depths. 

None of these expeditions were successful until 1985 when a mission led by underwater archeologist Robert Ballard tracked down the ship. Ballard and his crew learned that the Titanic had split in two on the ocean floor, and the wreck encompassed a massive debris field. The 2001 UNESCO Convention now protects the wreck.