A path not taken: Arrival in New York

The following photograph shows Olympic approaching her berth at the White Star pier in New York City. This is the same pier Titanic would have used upon her arrival at the end of her maiden voyage.

While the two sister ships were different in many ways, this photograph offers a view we'll never have of Titanic - the approach to New York harbor. Had fate been kinder, Titanic would have been greeted by a flotilla of boats, whistles blowing, as she made her first arrival here. Instead, it was the Carpathia, her decks lined with Titanic survivors, that arrived here on the evening of April 18, 1912. The rescue ship paused here long enough to unload all that remained of Titanic herself - 13 lifeboats (several boats were left at sea). Carpathia then went on to Cunard's Pier 54, where she docked and released Titanic's survivors to dry land.