RMS Titanic was just a ship.
For all the mythology surrounding the Titanic — its voyage, its sinking and the aftermath through to the romance of Hollywood’s portrayal — it was just a ship.
It might have been the largest passenger ship, but that claim had been made before. It might have been intended to make the fastest passage to New York on its maiden voyage, but that claim had been made before, too.
It was said to be unsinkable, but any experienced mariner would shake his head at such an absurd claim.
There had been many other ships with their own claims to fame, and more were to come. The fact so few photographs were taken of its departure shows that while it was significant, it was not monumentally so.
Titanic was just a ship. 100 years ago today it was close to its collision, not just with the iceberg, but with history.
Much ink has been spilled over that disaster and its centennial has heightened the public appetite for details.
What is it about the Titanic that, alone of many marine disasters, keeps that interest alive?