Finding TITANIC: The Secret Mission

You are about to embark on a top-secret Navy mission to locate and survey two sunken Cold War nuclear submarines using advanced underwater research technology. To the world, your expedition is presented as a search for the RMS Titanic – but that is only a cover for the true objective. With the classified mission complete, you have just twelve days left to search for history’s most famous shipwreck. The twist? You find it.

Before proceeding, you will familiarize yourself with the Cold War, deep-sea research technology, and the covert mission that led to one of the 20th century’s most significant maritime discoveries.

What the world didn't know was this: the discovery of the TITANIC almost didn't happen.

In 1985, Dr. Robert Ballard approached the U.S. Navy with a proposal, and left with a condition. Before searching for the world’s most famous shipwreck, he was tasked with a classified Cold War operation: locate two lost American nuclear submarines, the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion, and document the threat their reactors posed on the ocean floor. It was espionage disguised as exploration. And with just twelve days remaining after completing the mission, Ballard changed history forever.

Who is Robert Ballard?

Dr. Robert Ballard is a renowned oceanographer, explorer, and naval officer, known for discovering the RMS Titanic in 1985. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has led over 150 deep-sea expeditions and pioneered the underwater research technology used to explore the ocean floor.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in California, Ballard became one of the most influential figures in the history of underwater exploration – uncovering historic shipwrecks, discovering hydrothermal vents, and fundamentally expanding our understanding of the deep ocean.

What You’ll Experience

• Follow the Discovery

  Step into Dr. Ballard’s shoes and experience the mission as it unfolded—through his own words, hands-on interactives, authentic artifacts, and the cutting-edge technology that made history possible.

• Try Hands-On STEM Activities

  Discover the science behind deep-sea exploration firsthand. Experiment with a Cartesian diver, a layered density bottle, and a working periscope to understand the tools and principles that guided Ballard’s mission.

• See Rare Footage and Artifacts

  Come face-to-face with history. The exhibition features authentic artifacts recovered from the Titanic – including a deck chair and an ice message—alongside a life preserver from James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic and recently declassified footage never before shown to the public.