Pigeon Forge, TN is home to some of the most unique museums in the country! Covering everything from celebrities to crime, these museums are a far cry from the dull field trip destinations you may have visited as a kid. To help you make the most of your next vacation, we have put together a convenient guide to all of the best museums in Pigeon Forge.
1. Titanic Museum Attraction
No vacation in Pigeon Forge is complete without a trip to the Titanic Museum Attraction! This unique museum is home to over 400 artifacts that were on the actual RMS Titanic, a collection that is valued at $4 million. In addition to these fascinating pieces of history, the museum features full-scale re-creations of rooms on the Titanic, including the breathtaking grand staircase. Guests at the museum will also have the chance to touch an iceberg, “steer” the ship, “shovel coal” in the engine room, and learn the fate of the Titanic’s passengers in the Memorial Room.
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2. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Alcatraz East is Pigeon Forge’s newest and most talked about museum! Located right next door to The Island in Pigeon Forge, this awesome museum is dedicated to the history, consequences, and prevention of crime. Guests at Alcatraz East will have the chance to see a variety of artifacts that belonged to America’s most notorious criminals, including Bonnie and Clyde’s getaway car, O.J. Simpson’s Ford Bronco, Al Capone’s rosary, and John Dillinger’s death mask.
3. Hollywood Wax Museum
If you’ve always wanted to take a selfie with your favorite movie star, you’ll love the Hollywood Wax Museum! This popular attraction features realistic wax replicas of all your favorite celebrities. The statues are so lifelike that you might just fool your friends when you show them your photos from the museum. Some of the stars you’ll see at the Hollywood Wax Museum include Robert Downey Jr., Bradley Cooper, Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and many others. Celebrities from Hollywood’s Golden Age like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and John Wayne also make appearances. It’s easy to see why the Hollywood Wax Museum is one of the most popular museums in Pigeon Forge!
4. Dollywood’s Chasing Rainbows Museum
Fans of Dolly Parton will not want to miss the Chasing Rainbows Museum. Located at the Dollywood theme park, this amazing museum is dedicated to everyone’s favorite Smoky Mountain native: Ms. Parton herself. Chasing Rainbows is jam-packed with Dolly’s awards, clothes, and personal items. Highlights of the collection include a glass case full of Grammys, original handwritten lyrics to some of Dolly’s biggest songs, costumes from the movie 9 to 5, and a “coat of many colors” sewed by Dolly’s mother. Visitors to the museum will even be greeted by a talking (and singing) hologram of Dolly! Chasing Rainbows is only open to paying Dollywood guests.
5. Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
When you visit Dollywood, you will also want to stop by the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame. Established in 1997, this wonderful museum honors legendary Southern gospel performers like the Blackwood Brothers, Dottie Rambo, The Happy Goodman Family, and Bill Gaither. Guests will find a Hall of Fame lined with bronze plaques, Southern gospel memorabilia from across the decades, video and sound clips, and a singing animatronic quartet. Unlike Chasing Rainbows, the Southern Gospel Museum is open to those who have not purchased admission to Dollywood. If you are interested in visiting the museum but do not have tickets to Dollywood, talk to Guest Relations at the entrance to the park.
Final Thoughts
What are your favorite museums in Pigeon Forge? Let us know in the comments below!
