When Titanic sailed onto the big screen in 1997, the real ill-fated White Star Line ship that inspired the epic romantic tragedy had already been nestled in its final resting spot on the frigid sea floor in the North Atlantic for 85 years. The height of luxury for its time, the passenger liner was the largest ship afloat when it departed for New York on its maiden voyage in 1912. Carrying some of the wealthiest people in the world, Titanic’s first-class amenities were stunning from the moment guests entered the ship—and the Grand Staircase was no exception.

Made of oak with ornate designs on its banisters, an intricate clock at its upper landing, and topped with a domed glass skylight, the Grand Staircase was said to be breathtaking—but no known photos exist of the elegant Titanic staircase, and if one were to explore the ship’s watery grave, there would be no Grand Staircase in sight. Now a gaping hole in the wreckage allowing explorers access to the ship’s lower decks, Titanic historians were left to theorize about the fate of the elegant, sprawling staircase…until 1997.

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Notoriously detail-obsessed, James Cameron wasn’t satisfied with simply shooting on sets designed to look like the steamer—so he built an almost-identical replica of the Titanic. The director’s thoroughly complex attention to detail not only helped to make Titanic a record-breaking blockbuster, but also helped confirm theories about what could have happened to the Grand Staircase.

Reddit user nmd1932 rediscovered the fun fact following the 25th anniversary of the film’s release, writing:

Titanic Historian Weighs In

Long-time Titanic historian Joshua Milford agrees that Cameron’s “almost perfect” replica of the luxury liner provided a unique opportunity to study how events might have transpired during the 2 hours and 40 minutes that it took the ship to fully sink. Milford writes that the staircase likely met its untimely end around 2:15 the morning of April 14, 1912, dislodging from its foundations and floating away in the rushing water.

Catch Cameron’s complex details on the big screen once again when Titanic hits theaters for a re-release February 2023.