She was missing for 75 years. In the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, those who loved her took one last look as she disappeared from sight. Most people thought they would never see her again, but she’s back.
Early next year, the Titanic will sail into Pigeon Forge. She will be hard to miss. The $25 million half-scale replica of the RMS Titanic has been taking shape for the past few months and the impact the museum has on visitors is as overwhelming as the ship’s 100-foot tall smokestacks.
The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge will be similar to the Titanic Museum in Branson, Mo. (both are owned by Cedar Bay Entertainment) only larger and with a third floor. Those who think of go-cart tracks and airbrushed t-shirts when they hear the words “Pigeon Forge” should take note — the Titanic Museum would be perfectly at home in Epcot at Walt Disney World (one of the owners was a senior executive at Disney for 20 years). Its priceless artifacts and unbelievable detail bring the ship and her passengers to life, and the real story the museum tells is the story of the passengers.
Guests will be given a boarding pass when they enter the Titanic Museum. Each boarding pass has the name of a different passenger on the RMS Titanic. As they walk through the museum, they not only see and learn about the ship and its only voyage, but they get to know a real person who was on board. They will see handwritten letters and postcards from passengers, personal belongings and other artifacts that make the museum much more than a simple exhibit.
The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge will open early next year.
If you’re in Pigeon Forge, stop by the Titanic preview trailer in the museum’s parking lot. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding it, just look for the large passenger ship sailing down the Parkway.
