Part 9/12:
Just as the mansion was nearing completion, tragedy struck. In April 1912, George, Eleanor, and their son Harry boarded the RMS Titanic for a celebratory European tour and to bring back European furnishings for Miramar. On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, leading to one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.
George Widenner’s sense of duty and chivalry was evident during the chaos; he helped Eleanor and their maid onto a lifeboat but refused to board himself as women and children were evacuated. Sadly, George and his son Harry, age 27, perished in the sinking, leaving Eleanor widowed at just 48 and devastated. Their deaths profoundly impacted the mansion’s future, which was still under construction when the tragedy unfolded.