Fun Fact – Minnesota Company Built The Submersible That Found The Titanic

I ran into an interesting fact that I never knew. The submersible used by Robert Ballard to view the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean actually came from Minnesota. How is that even possible?

DSV Alvin - Owned By The United States Navy - Built In Minnesota

I would assume that a submersible would be built in a coastal city. That would make the most sense, right? The truth is that the company that made some of your favorite breakfast cereals over the years also built one of the most innovative deep-sea crewed vehicles ever.

Related: Minnesota's Deepest Lake Isn't A Real Lake + Was Used By NASA

Yep, the same company that brought you Cheerios also built the sub that found the Titanic.

General Mills, whose headquarters is in Golden Valley, MN, also did some remarkable engineering. They established the Aeronautical Research Division and Electronics Division in 1946. They developed high-altitude spy balloons. They also invented the skyhook balloon where you can get spies and special forces out of enemy territory. It's a wild ride!

DSV Alvin Was Built By General Mills in 1964

It's hard to believe that this submersible was built in 1964! That was 60 years ago, and it's still being used for deep-sea exploration.

It was used in a 1986 mission to visit the Titanic for the first time.

Robert Ballard and his team used the Minnesota-built submersible to get footage and investigate the wreck of the Titanic.  The submersible went to a depth of 12,500 feet (2.4 miles) where the Titanic rests. But it can even go deeper!

DVS Alvin Sank In 1968

The submersible was being lowered by a support craft in 1968 when cables snapped with the hatch still open and crew members inside. The crew was able to escape, but Alvin quickly sank in 4,900 feet of water. They were able to use another submersible to recover it. It took multiple attempts but it was eventually brought back to the surface.

Get our free mobile app

It then was given a new titanium pressure hull during a refit in 1973, which extended it's depth capabilities. It's now been tested up to 21,300 feet deep!

The submersible is responsible for thousands of dives and research papers.

Alvin is still in use, and its use has contributed to around 2,000 research papers.