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RMS Olympic

Old ReliableCreated by: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search EngineDated: 1929
White Star Line, triple screw steamer "Olympic", 882 1/2 ft. long, 46,359 tons
RMS Olympic was a British transatlantic crossing ocean liner, the lead ship of the White Star Line's trio of Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic. Construction of Olympic began three months before Titanic. Olympic and Titanic were constructed side by side. Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and Britannic struck a mine and sank in the Kea Channel in Greece in 1916.

Olympic's attracted considerable worldwide attention from the press and public. Following her first arrival in New York, Olympic was opened up to the public and received over 8,000 visitors. More than 10,000 spectators watched her depart from New York. Following the Titanic disaster, Olympic was redesigned and her improved safety features were featured prominently in advertisements.

During the war, Olympic is reported to have carried up to 201,000 troops and other personnel. Her impressive war service earned her the nickname "Old Reliable."

During the 1920s, Olympic remained popular and fashionable and attracted the rich and famous of the day; Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks. Prince Edward and Captain Howarth were filmed on the bridge of Olympic for Pathé News. One of the attractions of Olympic was the fact that she was nearly identical to Titanic. On 18 November 1929, as Olympic was traveling to Titanic's last known position, the ship suddenly started to vibrate violently, and the vibrations continued for two minutes. It was later determined that this had been caused by the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake.

Changes in immigration laws in the United States in the 1920s restricted the number of immigrants and a major reduction in the immigrant trade for the shipping lines. At the turn of 1927–28, Olympic was converted to carry tourist third cabin passengers as well as first, second and third class.

Until 1930 there had been around one million passengers a year on the transatlantic route, but in 1934, the shipping was badly affected by the Great Depression and passengers had dropped by more than half. Olympic ran at a loss until she was withdrawn from service and sold for scrap in 1935. Decorative elements were removed and sold at auction before she was scrapped, and now adorn buildings and a cruise ship.

Olympic had completed 257 round trips across the Atlantic, transporting 430,000 passengers on her commercial voyages, traveling 1.8 million miles.
43 Media in collection ∙ page 1 of 1
[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Gymnasium]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Gymnasium]

157747 U.S. Copyright Office. Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Anchored in New York Harbor, with bow in foregrd.]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Anchored in New York Harbor, with bow in fore...

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

White Star S.S. Olympic [guided in by tugboats George K. Kirkham and Dowmer]

White Star S.S. Olympic [guided in by tugboats George K. Kirkham and D...

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Fore deck at dock in New York Harbor]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Fore deck at dock in New York Harbor]

J157755 U.S. Copyright Office Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Lounge room]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Lounge room]

J157743 U.S. Copyright Office. Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Full lgth. port view with New York skyline in backgrd.]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Full lgth. port view with New York skyline in...

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Reading room]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Reading room]

Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - maiden voyage

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - maiden voyage

Side view, with bow to right, launched at Belfast, northern Ireland. Title and other information transcribed from caption card and item. George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Caption card traci... More

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC, 1911 - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC, 1911 - Public domain image of a steam ship or b...

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: "OLYMPIC" - Public domain image of a steam boat

Ocean liners: "OLYMPIC" - Public domain image of a steam boat

Photograph show the arrival of the White Star ocean liner Olympic in New York, June 21, 1911 after her maiden transatlantic voyage. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2014) Titanic sister ship

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Palm Court]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Palm Court]

157741 U.S. Copyright Office Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Title devised by Library staff based on copyright registration caption. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

White Star Line, triple screw steamer "Olympic", 882 1/2 ft. long, 46,359 tons

White Star Line, triple screw steamer "Olympic", 882 1/2 ft. long, 46,...

Postcard showing the Olympic steamship at sea. "Phostint" postcard. Titanic sister ship

Ocean liners: Olympic - Public domain image of steamship

Ocean liners: Olympic - Public domain image of steamship

Photograph show the arrival of the White Star ocean liner Olympic in New York, June 21, 1911 after her maiden transatlantic voyage. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2014) Titanic sister ship

Arrival OLYMPIC, 6/21/11 - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Arrival OLYMPIC, 6/21/11 - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of steamship

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of steamship

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Stewards of OLYMPIC cheering reservists on ADRIATIC

Stewards of OLYMPIC cheering reservists on ADRIATIC

Photograph shows the stewards of the RMS Olympic cheering reservists on the RMS Adriatic. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2011) Titanic sister ship

Ship news - the OLYMPIC sailing

Ship news - the OLYMPIC sailing

Crowd looking at ship. NYC. J194688 U.S. Copyright Office No copyright renewal. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Caption card tracings: Geogr.; Ships.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: 1st class dining room]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: 1st class dining room]

J157740 U.S. Copyright Office. Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Title devised by Library staff based on copyright registration caption. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

OLYMPIC and TITANIC - view of bows [in shipyard construction scaffolding]

OLYMPIC and TITANIC - view of bows [in shipyard construction scaffoldi...

Title and other information transcribed from unverified, old caption card data and item. George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Caption card tracings: Industry Boats 1909-1911; Ships (2); Shipya... More

Ocean liners: S.S. Olympic - Public domain image of a steam boat

Ocean liners: S.S. Olympic - Public domain image of a steam boat

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC 1911

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC 1911

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Smoking room]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Smoking room]

J157742 U.S. Copyright Office. Photoprint in 1911 copyrighted by William H. Rau.

Ocean liners: Launching of Olympic

Ocean liners: Launching of Olympic

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Ocean liners: OLYMPIC - Public domain image of a steam ship or boat

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC - Public domain ocean liner image

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC - Public domain ocean liner image

Photograph shows the ship Olympic docked in New York City on the same day that the Titanic left Southhampton, England. (Source: researcher, G. Voudouris, 2015)

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Grand stairway, second landing]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Grand stairway, second landing]

Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Public domain photograph of theater building, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC, 1911

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC, 1911

Photograph show the arrival of the White Star ocean liner Olympic in New York, June 21, 1911 after her maiden transatlantic voyage. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2014) Titanic sister ship

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Full lgth. starboard view]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Full lgth. starboard view]

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Entering the Narrows of New York Harbor]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Entering the Narrows of New York Harbor]

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Deck from 2nd class entrance]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Deck from 2nd class entrance]

J157754 U.S. Copyright Office. Photoprint copyrighted in 1911 by William H. Rau. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

White Star Line, Triple Screw Steamer "Olympic", Ships

White Star Line, Triple Screw Steamer "Olympic", Ships

Picryl description: Public domain photo of vintage naval ship postcard, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Tugs maneuvering ship into pier, New York Harbor]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Tugs maneuvering ship into pier, New York Har...

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Titanic sister ship

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Entering New York Harbor]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Entering New York Harbor]

Photoprint copyrighted by William H. Rau. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Olympic, Titanic sister ship.

White Star [Line] S.S. Olympic entering New York Harbor on first trip

White Star [Line] S.S. Olympic entering New York Harbor on first trip

Titanic sister ship Public domain image of a passenger ship, ocean liner, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC - Glass negative photogrpah. Public domain.

Ocean liners: Arrival OLYMPIC - Glass negative photogrpah. Public doma...

Photograph shows the ship Olympic docked in New York City, on the same day that the Titanic left Southhampton, England. (Source: researcher G. Voudouris, 2015)

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Main stairway]

[The S.S. OLYMPIC, 1911: Main stairway]

Olympic, Titanic sister ship. Photograph copyrighted by William H. Rau in 1911.

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu

Ocean liners: R.M.S. "Olympic" - Restaurant menu