Opening Saturday, September 27, 2025
Join legendary marine geologist, oceanographer, Naval Officer, and deep-sea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard on a top-secret mission that led to one of history’s most significant maritime discoveries.
Explore the innovative technologies that revolutionized deep-sea exploration and set new standards for future discoveries.
At the heart of the experience is Dr. Robert Ballard, the legendary marine geologist, oceanographer, Naval Officer, and deep-sea explorer who led the 1985 expedition that discovered the wreck of RMS Titanic. For the first time, the now-declassified story of Ballard’s top-secret U.S. Navy mission is shared publicly, revealing how a covert Cold War operation to investigate two lost nuclear submarines led to one of the most important maritime discoveries in history.
In partnership with the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Dr. Ballard will appear in person at Bradley University on September 25 for a special OLLI event, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, personal reflections, and untold stories from his groundbreaking expedition.
Special Programs Across Peoria
Finding Titanic with Dr. Bob Ballard
OLLI’s Voices and Visionaries Series, Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:30 pm at the Renaissance Coliseum, Bradley University Campus.
Dr. Ballard’s presentation will include behind-the-scenes insights, personal reflections, and untold stories from his groundbreaking expedition that revealed the Titanic’s resting place—a discovery rooted in a top-secret Cold War mission. This is a FREE event, open to all but registration is required. Register HERE
America Forward: The Future of Discovery with Dr. Bob Ballard
First in the America Forward Speaker Series at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11 a.m.
A retired Navy officer and professor and professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Ballard is best known to the general public for his discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1985. Join us at the Peoria Riverfront Museum as Dr. Ballard presents on the future of discovery in America.
Titanic Live with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater/Peoria Civic Center
Present your Peoria Symphony Orchestra Titanic Live ticket at the Peoria Riverfront Museum's front desk and receive 50% off museum admission!
The live orchestral performance of the Titanic score brings the film’s iconic music to life, with sweeping strings and powerful brass enhancing its emotional depth. Buy tickets on the Symphony's website HERE
About the Exhibition
The RMS Titanic, the world’s largest ship when it launched in 1911, sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. More than 1,500 of its 2,240 passengers died. The shipwreck was discovered on September 1, 1985, by an expedition led by Ballard.
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission tells the story of the Titanic’s discovery through the unique lens of Ballard’s classified Navy assignment to document the wreck sites of two nuclear submarines – USS Thresher and USS Scorpion – under the cover story of searching for the Titanic.
This groundbreaking exhibition focuses on that secret mission as the catalyst for one of the most iconic discoveries in modern history. Each section unpacks how the seemingly impossible was achieved, highlighting the extraordinary challenges Ballard and his team faced along the way.
Uncover hidden history, examine real objects from the expedition, and be part of this story of espionage, innovation, and discovery. The exhibition immerses visitors in an emotional, high-stakes journey through Cold War history and maritime legend. Visitors will also experience the breakthrough technologies that revolutionized deep-sea exploration and set new standards for future discoveries.
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission is a traveling exhibition produced and toured internationally by Flying Fish in collaboration with Ocean Exploration Trust.
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission is presented by CEFCU.
The exhibition is sponsored by Gilmore Foundation, OLLI Bradley University, Merle and Adeline Dargel Fund for Science and Engineering, Gretchen Hagen Petrakis, and Corporate Visionary Society Council.
