On April 15, 1912 at approximately 2:20am, the RMS Titanic sank during its maiden voyage; having hit an iceberg less than 3 hours earlier, and claiming the lives of more than 1,500 passengers and crew. Once deemed “unsinkable,” the luxury liner struck an iceberg in the frigid North Atlantic and descended into history as one of the most infamous maritime disasters ever recorded.

The tragedy rippled through time, not only for the scale of human loss but for how it captured the world’s imagination. Writers, poets, and artists have spent over a century exploring the themes of hubris, heroism, survival, and sacrifice born from that night. The Titanic’s legacy lives on through novels, plays, films, and even music—its story reinterpreted across generations and media.

One particularly eerie literary connection predates the sinking: Morgan Robertson’s 1898 novella Futility, or The Wreck of the Titan. It told the story of a fictional ship—remarkably named Titan—which also sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. Though purely fictional, the parallels between Titan and Titanic continue to intrigue readers and historians alike.

Cinematic portrayals have kept the story in the public eye, from the 1980 film Raise the Titanic to James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic. Blending historical detail with a fictional love story, Cameron’s film became a cultural milestone, sweeping the Academy Awards and reviving global interest in the real-life events.

Among the casualties of the disaster were prominent figures from the arts, literature, and business. Accounts tell of first-class passengers attempting to safeguard personal manuscripts, heirlooms, and irreplaceable works of art—many of which were lost forever beneath the waves. French sculptor Adolphe Saalburg and musicians aboard the ship were among the cultural figures who perished.

The Titanic also helped inspire The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a spirited musical about one of its most famous survivors. The show celebrates Molly Brown’s resilience, reflecting the broader human spirit that emerged from the tragedy and spotlighting the lesser-known stories of courage and endurance.

More than a century later, the Titanic continues to resonate. Through literature, film, memorials, and museums, its story endures—not just as a cautionary tale, but as a tribute to the strength and fragility of the human experience.