“When you get knocked down, your passion gets you back up.”
These words rang out across the Renaissance Coliseum on Thursday, a message from Dr. Robert Ballard to the Bradley community. From aspiring oceanographers to fans of James Cameron’s film, over 2,000 people were eager to hear what the man who discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic had to say.
Ballard’s lifelong passion has been the exploration and discovery of Earth–more specifically, the 71 percent of Earth covered by water. And this passion has taken him to great depths.
“Think about this dyslexic kid from Kansas, who spends most of their life where no one has ever been,” Ballard said. “Since I was 17, I’ve been going to sea.”
Perhaps most famously, in 1985, he went over 12,000 feet under the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean, where the remains of the Titanic lay. 40 years later, Ballard has brought the story of this famous discovery to the Peoria Riverfront Museum, where the “Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission” exhibition is now on display.
“This is the world premiere of ‘Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission,’” Abbey McComb, gallery engagement coordinator, said. “At Peoria Riverfront Museum, we try to be first, best or only, and I think we’re hitting all of those marks with this one.”
The exhibition opened to the public on Saturday, but the crowd in the Renaissance Coliseum on Thursday night was privy to an exclusive preview from Ballard, kicking off the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s (OLLI) Voices and Visionaries series.
President James Shadid welcomed the famed oceanographer and shared a statement on the importance of the event.
“This evening is more than a presentation. It is a celebration of curiosity, perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge that continues to inspire us all,” Shadid said.
Attendees were invited to learn more about OLLI, the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Ballard’s memoir “Into the Deep” before the presentation began. When it came time for Ballard to share his story, he displayed his passion for exploration.
“The moment of discovery is addictive … I am lucky in my career to make numerous discoveries, and you just never get enough of it,” Ballard said.
Then, he let the audience in on the secret mission.
Ballard’s search for the Titanic started as a cover story for a classified Navy assignment to document the wreck sites of two nuclear submarines: the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion.
“A lot of people don’t understand the secret mission,” Steve Cline, an education guide at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, said. “Most people think [Ballard] was out looking for the Titanic, but initially, he wasn’t. He was looking for the two lost nuclear submarines.”
Little did Ballard know, this cover-up would become one of the most celebrated discoveries in modern history. Only now, the truth is out.
“Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission” will be at the Peoria Riverfront Museum for three months, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the steps of the mission and uncover its secrets for themselves.
“The content is very interdisciplinary, so we have something here for everyone,” McComb said. “Most people know about the Titanic in the first place, but we talk about the history of the Titanic, there’s artifacts from the ship itself, and then there’s a huge STEM element and STEAM element as well.”
Bradley students, faculty and staff can access the exhibit for free due to the partnership between the university and the museum announced in the spring. Those who have not received their membership can still sign up here with the promo code ‘BUMEM.’
McComb, who graduated from Bradley in 2023, promoted the use of the membership from a student standpoint.
“The Bradley bubble has been real, and it sounds like it stays real,” McComb said. “This is a really easy way to get into the community, meet new people, talk with our guides–they are very educational. You may learn something new about yourself, something new about a career path … we have so much to learn here that no matter what your major, minor or career trajectory is … you will find something that you’re interested in.”
During the three-month run of “Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission” at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, 30-minute tours will be offered every Wednesday and Saturday at 12:30 p.m., while Spark Stations, opportunities for additional learning, will be available on the same days from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Find out more about museum events here.
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