Billed as the most ambitious vessel of its era, the SS Great Eastern was meant to connect continents without pause—capable of carrying thousands in unmatched luxury. But from its sideways launch ...

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Eastern was the largest ship ever built in the 1850s, meant to sail from London to Sydney without refueling. Weighing 20,000 tons, it bankrupted its ...