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.
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, Anonymous, and Corporate Visionary Society Council.
