I’ve always been a history buff, Shelley — not so much.
So on our mini-vacation to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we happened upon a pamphlet for the Titanic – Pigeon Forge museum.
We arrived to see staff in period clothing, paid for our tickets and were handed two “passports”. These passports were actual people who were onboard the liner when she sank. You went through the self-guided tour, which was decorated just like Titanic was in its day. You walked amongst some impressive artifacts all the while not knowing if you survived the sinking or not — that answer would come at the end of the tour.
I expected a great time for me, and I had thought Shelley would just walk through it, just to humor me, but I was wrong. Shelley studied everything in the museum with serious interest — she was captivated! We both stared in wonder and awe at the pieces of wood from the ship, a deck chair, personal possessions recovered from the site (not the debris field), heck, Shelley even ‘shoveled’ coal into the boiler while a crisp, professional, guide described the job performed by the coal shovelers. He even told us of a little known secret about Titanic I hadn’t heard before.
We had started off in the third class section where we saw a staircase that was walled off in plexiglass that flooded, giving you the impression of what passengers would’ve seen trying to get to the boat deck — it really brought the experience to life. Seeing the tiny rooms third class passengers shared was eye-opening as well.
The second class rooms were next and were a little more ‘roomy’. Still more artifacts and tons of photos greeted us and gave us a view into daily life aboard the great ship. After staying awhile, it was off to first class!
Another guide in period dress greeted us at the bottom of the Grand Staircase. You ascend a replica complete with glass dome to view the opulence afforded to first class passengers. It really was impressive, until we reached the bridge…
The bridge was laid out exactly how Titanic’s was, you could even turn an exact replica of the ships wheel with more ‘crew’ in period dress answering any questions you might have. A door across the bridge led you to the deck — and the most impressive part of the museum in my opinion.
Upon entering the door and stepping ‘outside’, you are greeted with a wall of ice. The air in the room is cold with stars in the sky as it was that cold, fateful night. All around the deck was water — water that was 28 degrees, the same temperature that the water was when Titanic went down. Your hands felt numb only minutes after you put them in the water — needless to say it was a very sobering experience.
Your final stop is the Memorial Room. Here is where you find out wether you survived the sinking or not. Luckily, Shelley and I both survived. The most chilling part of the room is the life belt suspended in the middle of the room. This belt was worn by Madeline Astor the night of the sinking.
We both left with a new appreciation for the events on April 14, 1912 — and a new obsession.
Check it out for yourself as words really don’t do this museum justice. A word of warning though, cell phones must be turned off and no pictures are allowed.
History never was cooler.
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