Astounding Titanic Facts You’ve Never Heard Before

Published October 21, 2015
Updated March 12, 2024

These little-known Titanic facts are sure to surprise you--and give you the chills.

When the Titanic first hit the iceberg, large chunks of ice went flying to the forward deck as carefree passengers tossed the ice around in a spontaneous game of ice football. They were, for the moment, oblivious to the impending disaster.

Five days earlier, on April 10, 1912, the Titanic had left the port of Southampton, England, headed for New York. On April 15, the behemoth struck the iceberg, split in two, and sank deep into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

The iceberg was actually spotted one minute before the collision, but First Officer Murdoch waited 30 seconds to give orders. If it weren't for this fatal delay, the Titanic might have avoided the iceberg altogether.

The basic story of the Titanic is a familiar one, but from that game of ice football to the reason a nearby ship didn't come to the rescue to the very reason the Titanic sank (it isn't exactly what you think), these little-known Titanic facts are sure to surprise you--and give you the chills.

Building The Titanic
History Uncovered Podcast
Episode 64: The Titanic, Part 1: Building The ‘Unsinkable Ship’
It was supposed to be the greatest ship in history, a gargantuan marvel of modern engineering and unparalleled luxury. But the Titanic was doomed long before it ever set sail.

After learning this interesting facts about the RMS Titanic, see James Cameron's video explanation of how the Titanic sank and take a look at some stunningly beautiful icebergs (that have never sunk a ship) from around the world. Then, go beyond the Titanic to discover five sunken ships with even more fascinating stories.

author
John Kuroski
author
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.
editor
Gabe Paoletti
editor
Gabe Paoletti is a New York City-based writer and a former Editorial Intern at All That's Interesting. He holds a Bachelor's in English from Fordham University.
Citation copied
COPY
Cite This Article
Kuroski, John. "Astounding Titanic Facts You’ve Never Heard Before." AllThatsInteresting.com, October 21, 2015, https://mirror2.pbh-network.com/titanic-facts/. Accessed October 3, 2025.