On what date was the keel of the Titanic laid?

The keel of the Titanic was laid on 31 March 1909 at Harland and Wolff’s shipyard in Belfast, Ireland. This marked the formal beginning of the ship’s construction as a hull rather than merely a collection of prepared parts.

Titanic was built in the enormous Queen’s Island yard alongside her sister ship Olympic. Olympic’s keel had been laid in December 1908, so the two vessels were constructed almost simultaneously. The ships required specially enlarged slipways and the massive Arrol Gantry, which towered above the building site.

The keel-laying date is sometimes confused with other major milestones. Titanic was launched on 31 May 1911, completed and handed over in early April 1912, and began her maiden voyage from Southampton on 10 April 1912. Some modern references give 22 March 1909 for the start of construction, reflecting differing records about preparatory work, but 31 March is the conventional date used for the keel-laying event.

After launch, the unfinished hull was fitted out with engines, interiors, electrical systems, and hundreds of other components before entering service.