SHIPS

‘Searching for Franklin,’ ‘The Indifferent Stars Above,’ and ‘Cannibalism.’

8 Books About Historical Cannibalism

You might want to skip dinner after reading these.

Divers have said that the RMS ‘Rhone’ is haunted.

The Legends Behind 6 Haunted Shipwrecks

Whether real wrecks or ghostly sightings, these ships bear stories of unexplained deaths, flying orbs, and screams from the depths of the sea.

New 3D Scans Show the ‘Endurance’ Shipwreck in Stunning Detail

The footage is from a new ‘Endurance’ documentary hitting Disney+ later this year.

‘Le Lyonnais’ (not pictured above) has been discovered after nearly 200 years.

‘Le Lyonnais,' a Long-Lost French Steamship, Has Been Discovered Off the Massachusetts Coast

The French vessel was the victim of a maritime hit and run.

Built in 1843, the schooner ‘Home’ is one of the oldest shipwrecks discovered in Wisconsin.

It Just Got Easier to Dive to Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan

Thanks to a new buoy network, scuba divers and snorkelers can explore some of the historic wrecks—while protecting our maritime heritage—in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

The preserved hull of the Tudor warship ‘Mary Rose.’

12 Facts About the ‘Mary Rose,’ Henry VIII’s Legendary Warship

King Henry VIII built the English Royal Navy around his favorite warship, the ‘Mary Rose,’ which sank under mysterious circumstances in 1545.

Sir Ernest Shackleton stands on the deck of the ‘Quest’ before it left for Antarctica.

The ‘Quest,’ Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Last Ship, Has Been Found Off Eastern Canada

The ‘Quest’ was the ship on which Sir Ernest Shackleton carried out his final, uncompleted voyage to Antarctica.

This is no time to batten down the hatches.

16 Sailing Terms for Landlubbers

A handful of centuries-old sailing words remain known only to the saltiest of seamen, but some have become part of our everyday language.

“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

13 Facts About the Black Death

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

On a cruise ship, the name ‘Oscar’ has a very serious meaning.

14 Secret Code Words You Might Want to Know

Whether they’re said over a PA or in a one-on-one conversation, these seemingly innocuous terms are actually codes to alert those in the know that something is up while keeping others in the dark.

The mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’ has confounded historians for more 150 years.

The Unsolved Mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’

What really happened to the crew of the ‘Mary Celeste’? Delve into the theories and speculation surrounding this enduring maritime mystery.

These gripping reads shed new light on the coldest cases.

10 Gripping Nonfiction Books About History’s Greatest Mysteries

From the Dyatlov Pass incident to the murder of JonBenét Ramsey, some of the best nonfiction books about history’s greatest mysteries are so gripping, they’ll make you feel like you’re about to crack open a few cold cases yourself.

The Laroche family shortly before departing on the 'Titanic.'

The Long-Lost Story of Joseph Laroche, the Only Black Man on the ‘Titanic’

There are few tales of the ‘Titanic’ left unexplored. Joseph Laroche’s story is one of them.

Kali Reis and Jodie Foster star in ‘True Detective: Night Country.’

The Two Historical Mysteries That Inspired ‘True Detective: Night Country’

To create the newest season of ‘True Detective,’ showrunner Issa López went all the way back to 1872. And 1959.

A pirate flag with the distinctive eyewear.

Why Did Pirates Wear Eye Patches?

Did pirates wear eye patches to see better in the dark? Find out the truth behind the iconic style choice.

SS ‘Eastland’ overturned in the Chicago River.

Watch The Oldest Footage of Chicago on Film

Yestervid compiles silent film footage of the Windy City dating back to 1896.

‘Capture of the Pirate, Blackbeard, 1718,’ a 1920 painting depicting the battle between Blackbeard and Lieutenant Robert Maynard in Ocracoke Bay.

12 of the Fiercest Real-Life Pirates in History

They pillaged, they invaded, and they obeyed only the sea laws they made up as they went along.

A 1790 painting of the mutiny on the 'Bounty' by Robert Dodd.

5 of History’s Most Horrible Mutinies

The mutiny on the 'Bounty' has inspired multiple movies, but the 'Hermione' revolt was way bloodier.

Rogue waves have the power to sink freighters.

10 Surprising Facts About Rogue Waves

These freak waves are rare and unpredictable—and are believed to have caused numerous shipwrecks.

7 Ships That Disappeared Without a Trace

The true fate of many of these ships will never be known, but speculation suggests that storms, piracy, mutiny, accidental bombing, and even the attack of a giant squid could be responsible for their vanishings.

Not 'The Defender,' but we needed to show you something.

A Century-Old Experimental Submarine, 'The Defender,' Is Found 'Hiding in Plain Sight' in Long Island Sound

The peculiar sub had wheels and other innovative features.

70 Huge Facts About the ‘Titanic’

The 'Titanic' sinking became the most infamous shipwreck in history—but what really happened on that unusually calm night in the North Atlantic?

The deck of the Ironton beneath Lake Huron.

Newly-Discovered Lake Huron Shipwreck Paints Grim Picture of Vessel’s Final Moments

After lying at the bottom of Lake Huron for more than a century, the wreck of the ‘Ironton’ has been discovered, confirming its tragic fate.

12 Memorable Facts About the S.S. ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’

More than 40 years after the most famous ship in Great Lakes history vanished during a storm, the cause is still a mystery.