"TITANIC SINKS FOUR HOURS AFTER HITTING AN ICEBERG" was the headline from The New York Times on April 16, 1912. One of the worst disasters in maritime history had been caused by mistakes, miscommunication, and an iceberg. The fortunate passengers that made it to the lifeboats would be saved by the Cunard Line's RMS Carpathia just hours after the Titanic went down. It would be another two days until the ship would reach New York City, arriving on the evening of April 18th. The Carpathia's first stop would be to unload the Titanic's lifeboats at White Star Line's Pier 59. (The ill-fated Titanic was originally scheduled to pull into this berth on April 17th.) Afterward, the Carpathia proceeded to its final destination, the Cunard Line's Pier 54.*
Click the arrow on the right-hand side to see what the Pier 54 looks like now. You can just make out the words -Cunard White Star.
Thousands of people would be waiting outside Pier 54 to learn the fate of their loved ones. The passengers of the Carpathia would disembark first then the survivors of the Titanic would follow. As the survivors started down the gangplank, they would be overwhelmed by heavy rain and general commotion. The roar of the crowd, shouting from family members as well as the press, enveloped them. Some survivors were reunited with their families but with only 710 souls rescued and over two thousand lost, many did not.
Library of Congress via Bain New Service (1912)
One survivor, later to be known as Molly Brown, would inspire a famous Broadway musical and movie. That survivor, Margaret Brown was one of the last passengers to disembark. The press was waiting and asked how Margaret (she was never known as Molly but Maggie when she was alive) survived. She replied “Typical Brown luck. I’m unsinkable.” At that moment, a legend was born.**
RMS Lusitania leaving Pier 54 in New York City via Library of Congress
During World War I, Pier 54 would be the point of departure for the fatal voyage of the RMS Lusitania. Furthermore, tragic events would befall the RMS Carpathia which only a few years before had docked at Pier 54 carrying the survivors from the Titanic.
Near the start of World War I, the RMS Lusitania would leave Pier 54 en route to Liverpool, England. On May 7, 1915, near the coast of Ireland, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the ship. Of the more than 1,900 passengers and crew members on board, more than 1,100 perished, including more than 120 Americans. ***
Three years later, RMS Carpathia, having been called into service for Great Britain, would leave Liverpool for the United States as part of a convoy of ships. On July 17, 1918, three torpedoes from a German U-boat would cause the ship to sink off the coast of Ireland. Five people were killed. Fortunately, the rest of the passengers and crew would be rescued by a nearby ship.****
New York Public Library Digital Collection Pier 54
Pier 54 would not be able to escape its disaster. In 1932, it was destroyed by a fire with the loss of several lives. Pier 54 would immediately be rebuilt and fully operational for the Cunard Line and then by freight ships for the next decades. In the 1980s, a plan for an elevated highway would cause this pier and others to close. Pier 54 would fall into disrepair and eventually be demolished in 1991.
As for the Cunard Line and White Star Line, they would merge in 1934 due to financial losses from the Great Depression. Cunard was the majority owner in this merger and would eventually drop the White Star part of the name in 1949. Although, the Cunard ships flew both the White Star and Cunard flags until 1968. The Cunard Lines still exist today but due to Covid 19, there are no plans to sail until mid-2021.
Little Island at Pier 55 Collaboration by Heatherwick Studio and MNLA
As for the current state of Pier 54, it will soon be one of the entrances to a new park. After the pier was damaged in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy, the restoration of its ironworks helped spark the idea for Little Island. This public space incorporates art and nature much like the nearby High Line. The partnership of American business Barry Diller and Hudson River Park Trust has brought this idea to fruition. Little Island is due to open to New Yorkers in spring 2021.
What to know more? Here's a good place to start:
Sources:
Photographs:
Top image:
New York Public Library Digital Collection
Pier 54 Slider:
Pier 54 photgraph in black and white via New York Historical Society
Pier 54 photograph in color via Flickr
Pier 54 Collage:
First image: Chris Manis via WestView News
Second image: Little Island designed by Thomas Heatherwick
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