The Titanic story is one that’s known by everyone. The ship hit an iceberg and thousands died from the brutal, ice-cold ocean water, but there is so much more to Titanic than just that. It is a well-known fact that the Titanic was lost after she hit the iceberg and sunk deep into the bottom of the ocean, undiscovered for more than75 years. She was later found again in 1985.
What Makes Pigeon Forge's Titanic Museum So Special?
It is a two-story museum shaped exactly like the RMS Titanic ship. As the name suggests, it is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and has been operating since April 8, 2010. It is built to be half the size of the original ship and is built around a pool area to give the illusion of the ocean. It might be similar to other Titanic museums when looking at it from the outside, but as soon as the guest steps in they realize there is so much more in this ship than they could have anticipated.
The second voyage to the site of the wreck in 1986 was led by the co-founder of The Titanic Museum In Pigeon Forge, John Joslyn. This guarantees every artifact the guests see on the ship is real, and they are valued at more than $4 million dollars. The structure is built in a pool to create the illusion of the Titanic at sea, and the two-hour, self-guided tour is designed to give guests the sensation of being an original passenger on the Titanic's 1912 maiden voyage.
The Experience At The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge
The overall vision is to ensure the visitor enters the Titanic museum as a guest and leaves as a passenger with a more thorough understanding of the operations of Titanic. Guests are greeted by costume members with a boarding card, in the name of a real passenger – whose destiny is later discovered before the end of the trip, as they board the realistic ship.
And once on the ship, guests can expect to travel back to the year 1912 as they travel around the 22,000 square foot educational history of the Titanic. The crew members pay respects to the 2208 passengers that were on board when the Titanic sunk by telling their story to the guests.
Among many of the experiences, the guests will be able to touch and feel a growing iceberg, immerse themselves into 28 degrees’ water (equivalent to the water temperature around Titanic when she sunk), and also pay respects to all 2208 passengers that were on board. Moreover, guests will be able to see the limited edition Titanic photos that exist on display. Each and every passenger who boarded the ship have their story, and at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, guests will get to know more of their stories first-hand.
For guests that vintage art and playing instruments, they can enjoy playing the 1900s Grand Piano plus have a look at the great first-class stateroom, which duplicates the ones the Astors shared. Visitors can also view a third-class duplicate cabin. The thrill continues where the guests are able to take on the wheel on the Captain’s Bridge while viewing highlights of the Museum owner, John Joslyn’s, dive on his expedition in the Discovery Gallery.
The Grand Staircase Replicated
If everyone knows the Titanic, then everyone knows the Grand Staircase. At Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN, guests are invited to walk on the replicate staircase that they offer, the only museum to allow guests to walk on such a staircase. The staircase is built from the actual ship blueprints and is duplicated accurately. Iron and woodworkers reconstructed this staircase with the most accurate details and delicate oak wood carvings for the best experience.
In the original Titanic ship, the staircase was most famous for the area where passengers made their grand entrance and showed off their picked outfits of the day. Visitors will be surprised to know that the floor of the grand staircase was made with material considered the most expensive in the year 1912. The whole design and thought that went into carving this masterpiece at the museum cost just over $1 million.
What Does The Guest Get To Experience Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge?
- Being welcomed with a boarding pass registered in the name of a real passenger
- Observe the artifacts on display worth more than $4 million
- Walk the exact duplicate of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase worth $1 million
- Touch and feel the iceberg
- Feel the 28-degree water on their skin
- Experience shoveling coal into the Titanic’s boiler room
- Learn how the SOS distress signal was sent
- Experience the sloping decks of Titanic as she sunk into the ocean, and sit in a true replica, life-sized version of Titanic
- Learn more about the passengers that boarded the ship and their stories
- For children eight years and under, they can visit the Tot-Titanic, which offers a more interactive area for easy understanding
Just before the visit ends, guests will discover their passenger’s fate in the Titanic Memorial Room.