Interested in the Titanic? There's a whole museum about it in Pigeon Forge
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Well over a century after the sinking of the Titanic – and a quarter-century after the release of the blockbuster movie that provided most of us with our image of it – the ill-fated ship has been back in the news this week.
After the disappearance and ultimately tragic implosion of the Titan submersible on its trip down to the wreckage of the Titanic on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, public interest in the historic ship jumped, and with it interest in the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, according to Google.
If your interest in the Titanic has been piqued, here are four things you should know about the East Tennessee museum.
A chance to walk on the Grand Staircase under the glass dome
The eye-catching attraction, which opened in April 2010 along Pigeon Forge's main drag, offers visitors self-guided tours of replicas of the cabins, halls and the Grand Staircase that's such a familiar setting from the movie. More than 400 artifacts from the ship and its passengers, such as china or a battered deck chair, are displayed, according to the website.
It's not just about the boat; it's also about the sinking
Not just portraying the glamour of the period luxury ocean liner, the museum also focuses on its tragic fate. Visitors are given boarding passes with the names of actual passengers or crew members from the Titanic, and learn that person's fate at the end of their tour. There's also the chance to hear passengers' stories, touch an "iceberg" and experience the sloping deck of the sinking ship, the website says.
The Titanic Museum is a popular attraction
The Titanic Museum was named the sixth most popular tourist destination in the state, The Tennessean just reported. Coming in ahead of it on the list compiled by real estate site TNRealEstate were nearby attractions Dollywood in second place and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in third.
Do you have to buy Titanic Museum tickets in advance?
The museum's website recommends reserving tickets online ahead of time, since it's so popular that many days sell out.
Oh, and one more thing
There was totally room for Leo on that door. Don’t @ me.
Robin Gibson is people and trends editor. Email ragibson@gannett.com. Twitter @RobinGibsonTSP.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge is a popular attraction about tragedy
