Watch the Only Surviving Footage of the Titanic Before Its Doomed Voyage

Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain | Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

The Titanic's final hours are what made it forever famous, but there's something captivating about the images of the ship from before the wreck. When looking at relics from the days when the ocean liner was still considered unsinkable, it's hard not to think about the dark fate awaiting it. That's very much the effect of the eerie video below.

According to IrishCentral, this video includes the only surviving genuine footage of the RMS Titanic before it embarked on its first and final voyage. The opening clip was filmed in Belfast in Northern Ireland, where the massive ship was constructed. After the footage was shot, Titanic left for Southampton, England, where it remained before setting sail for New York City on April 10, 1912. Famously, the ship never made it to its destination: It struck an iceberg and sank just four days into its maiden voyage.

The newsreel also features Titanic Captain Edward Smith, who went down with the ship on April 15, and footage of the survivors arriving in New York on the Carpathia. If you're only familiar with the Titanic shown in movies, or the ruins at the bottom of the Atlantic, it's worth checking out these real images from the days immediately surrounding the tragedy.

You can view the full video below.