The Cutty Sark is the most famous surviving clipper! It was named after a short chemise worn by a witch in Robert Burns' poem "Tam o' Shanter." The ship transported tea from China and wool from Australia. The Cutty Sark holds the record for the fastest voyage from Sydney to London (73 days, 1885). The ship was damaged by fire in 2007 but has been restored. Clipper ships were known for their "extreme" design – long, narrow hulls and huge sail areas. They were raced against each other, and crews worked under dangerous conditions. The era of clippers was brief (1840s-1870s) but left a lasting legacy in maritime history. The term "clipper" refers to the ships' ability to "clip off" (speed past) other vessels.

HMS Victory was Nelson's flagship! The ship is the oldest naval ship still in commission (launched 1765). It served as the flagship of the First Sea Lord and is a museum. Nelson was shot by a French sniper and died below decks. His body was preserved in a barrel of brandy for the return to England. The Battle of Trafalgar was a decisive British victory; the British captured 21 enemy ships and lost none. Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, commemorates him. The victory prevented Napoleon from invading Britain and established British naval dominance for over 100 years. The phrase "Nelson touch" refers to his bold tactics of breaking the enemy line. Trafalgar Day is celebrated on October 21.

The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic! The ship was on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. It struck an iceberg at 11:40 PM on April 14 and sank at 2:20 AM on April 15. The ship had only 20 lifeboats (capacity 1,178) – enough for only about half the passengers (regulations were based on outdated tonnage rules). The nearby ship Carpathia rescued 705 survivors. The disaster exposed class discrimination: first-class passengers had higher survival rates than third-class. The wreck was discovered in 1985; it lies at a depth of 12,500 feet (3,800 meters). The sinking has been the subject of countless books, films (most famously James Cameron's 1997 film), and investigations. The last survivor, Millvina Dean, died in 2009 at age 97 (she was 2 months old at the time).

The Mayflower Compact was signed! It was an agreement to govern themselves "by just and equal laws." It was signed by 41 adult male passengers. The original Mayflower Compact was lost; copies survive in William Bradford's journal. The ship Mayflower was a cargo ship (not designed for passengers). The voyage took 66 days. The Pilgrims originally intended to land in Virginia but were blown off course. The Mayflower returned to England in 1621 and was likely scrapped. A replica, Mayflower II, sailed from England to Plymouth in 1957 and is preserved as a museum ship. The story of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower is central to American history and Thanksgiving traditions. The passengers included William Bradford (later governor), Myles Standish (military leader), and John Alden (a cooper).

Old Ironsides is the nickname! The ship's hull is made of live oak (very dense wood), not iron. The Constitution is one of six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. It was designed by Joshua Humphreys. The ship is still crewed by active-duty U.S. Navy sailors. It makes an annual "turnaround" cruise in Boston Harbor. The ship was saved from scrapping in 1830 after Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. published a poem, "Old Ironsides." The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat (HMS Victory is older but in dry dock). It is docked at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. The ship has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The crew maintains the ship using traditional sailing skills.

The Strait of Magellan is named after him! The strait separates mainland South America from Tierra del Fuego. It was a key route before the Panama Canal opened. Magellan was Portuguese but sailed for Spain. The voyage proved that Earth was larger than Columbus thought and that the Americas were separate from Asia. Magellan's crew was the first to sail across the Pacific Ocean. They suffered from scurvy and starvation, eating rats, sawdust, and leather. Elcano was knighted by the King of Spain for completing the voyage. The expedition also proved that the Earth was round (though educated people already knew that). Magellan's name is also given to the Magellanic Clouds (two dwarf galaxies visible from the Southern Hemisphere).

Niña, Pinta, and Santa María were the ships! The Santa María was a carrack, while the Niña and Pinta were caravels (smaller, faster). The Niña (real name Santa Clara) and the Pinta (real name unknown) returned to Spain; the Santa María was wrecked. Columbus made three more voyages (1493, 1498, 1502). He explored the Caribbean islands and the mainland of Central and South America. Columbus was not the first European to reach the Americas (Leif Erikson had landed around 1000 CE), but his voyages initiated sustained contact between Europe and the Americas. Columbus died in 1506 in Valladolid, Spain. His remains were moved several times and are possibly in Seville Cathedral and also in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). Columbus's voyages launched the Columbian Exchange and the colonization of the Americas.

A German U-boat sank the Lusitania! The sinking was a major propaganda victory for the Allies. The ship sank in 18 minutes. The death toll included women and children. Germany claimed the ship was armed and carrying munitions. The United States protested, and Germany agreed to restrict U-boat warfare (the "Sussex Pledge"). Germany later resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917, leading to the U.S. declaration of war. The wreck of the Lusitania is in 305 feet (93 meters) of water. The wreck site is a protected area. Diving is prohibited. The sinking was a precursor to the sinking of another liner, the Athenia (1939), which also killed Americans and contributed to WWII. The Lusitania disaster was a turning point in the war and in maritime history.

Charles Darwin sailed on the Beagle! He was 22 years old when the voyage began. The Beagle sailed from Plymouth, England, on December 27, 1831. Darwin collected thousands of specimens (fossils, plants, animals) and kept detailed notebooks. He suffered from seasickness but continued his work. The voyage lasted nearly five years. Darwin did not develop his theory of evolution until years after returning to England (he published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859). The Beagle made three voyages; the third was to survey Australia. The ship was sold in 1845, renamed, and eventually scrapped. A replica of the Beagle was built in 2009 and is on display in Chile. Darwin's voyage is one of the most famous scientific expeditions in history. The Beagle is also known for carrying a young Robert FitzRoy (captain), who later became a pioneering meteorologist.

The Battle of Hampton Roads was the first ironclad battle! The battle changed naval warfare forever. The Monitor was designed by John Ericsson. It had a revolving turret and a low profile (only 18 inches above the water). The Virginia had sloping armor and rammed wooden ships. The battle was inconclusive; neither ship could penetrate the other's armor. The Virginia was scuttled by the Confederates in May 1862 to prevent capture. The Monitor sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in December 1862. The wreck was discovered in 1973; the turret was raised in 2002. The battle was a sensation worldwide, and navies began converting to ironclads. The USS Monitor is a National Marine Sanctuary. The term "Monitor" became the designation for a type of warship with a revolving turret.