Key Information
SS Great Eastern
| Type | Iron Sail-Powered, Paddle Wheel and Screw-Propelled Steamship |
| Ordered | 1853 |
| Laid Down (Construction Started) | 1 May 1854 |
| Launched | 31 January 1858 |
| Maiden Voyage | 30 August 1859 |
| Capacity | Passengers: 4000, crew: 418. Total 4,418 |
| Displacement | 17,274 tons |
| Dimensions | Length: 692.25 ft; Beam: 82 ft; Depth: over 30 ft |
Learning Point
- The SS Great Eastern was a massive British steamship built in the 1850s. It was the largest ship in the world for almost 40 years. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was a combination of a paddle steamer and a screw steamer. Despite its innovative design and immense size, the Great Eastern faced financial difficulties and was never as successful as hoped. It was eventually sold and repurposed several times before being scrapped in 1889.
Project
- Draw the SS Great Eastern on its first (Maiden) voyage.
- Overview
- Plans
Location
| Location | Millwall, London, United Kingdom |
Fun Facts
- The SS Great Eastern was the largest ship in the world for almost 40 years!
- It could move using both paddle wheels and a propeller.
- It was used to lay the Atlantic Telegraph cable. This cable helped people send messages across the ocean.
- The ship had a lot of problems and was eventually broken up for parts.
- It was the first ship to feature a double hull, something that wouldn’t happen again for about 100 years.
Past Lessons
| 140 | September 12, 2024 | (North America) |