For starters, most first class staterooms had square windows rather than the usual round portholes. Its portholes and hatch were collected from a marine salvage company. The "Gleaves"-class portholes on the forecastle were omitted in the "Benson"-class. The turtle ship had 10 oars and 11 cannon portholes on each side. Nonetheless there were comfortable, freestanding wooden chairs and the room was brightly lit by portholes. The windows are decorated as round portholes. Surviving passengers and crew testified that some upper portholes were left open for ventilation. It was pierced with square portholes to provide ventilation for the crew spaces. Fifteen minutes after the ship was struck, the open portholes on E Deck were underwater. The interior was insulated, finished with wallboard, portholes and a door. The windows were replaced by 10 small portholes a side. Portholes on submarines are generally made of acrylic plastic. Through their portholes, guests view a colorful underwater environment. There were 16 portholes (8 on each side, 2 oversized) for direct observation. The front elevation, as seen from the street, is like a honeycomb with small portholes.