Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum Attraction in Gatlinburg TN
April 10, 2023

Are you looking for something fun and engaging to do on your next Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge vacation? If so, then you should definitely check out the museums in the area. They give you the opportunity to learn new things through unique exhibits and interactive activities. To find out more, explore this list of 4 interesting museums in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge:

1. Hollywood Star Cars Museum

Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg

At the Hollywood Star Cars Museum, you can see an awesome collection of famous vehicles. Some of the cars you see may have been in your favorite television shows or movies. For example, the museum houses the 1981 DeLorean Time Machine that was driven by Michael J. Fox in the Back to the Future trilogy. There are also cars from more current films, some of which include the sleek sports cars of The Fast and the Furious series. The collection in the Hollywood Star Cars Museum also contains cars owned by celebrities like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Dolly Parton.

2. Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Ripley’s Believe It or Not is another one of the fun museums in Gatlinburg. It has over 500 unique items for visitors to see. The collection consists of art, pop culture memorabilia, and interactive games. Notable exhibits include a statue of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts that is made of over 600,000 matchsticks. Additionally, be sure to check out the collection of authentic shrunken heads! The collection was started in the 1920s when Robert Ripley received the first one from a trader in Panama. Since then, it has grown and contains more than 100 heads.

3. WonderWorks

WonderWorks Museum in Pigeon Forge

WonderWorks is a great museum in Pigeon Forge for all ages. The quirky building that resembles an upside-down house will definitely draw you in from the get-go. On the inside, visitors can explore more than 100 hands-on activities that combine education and entertainment. There are 6 Wonder Zones each with a different theme. In the Physical Challenge Zone, you get to see what it feels like to lay on a bed of 3,500 nails. In the Space Discovery Zone, you can participate in the astronaut training challenge and spin around in a gyroscope. Along with the Wonder Zones, this attraction is also home to the world’s largest indoor ropes course!

4. Alcatraz East Crime Museum

The Alcatraz East Crime Museum takes you through the history of crime in the United States. In the various exhibits, visitors get to learn about how crime and its punishments have evolved. They can also find out more about the methods of crime scene investigation and crime prevention. Each topic has its own interactive activities. For example, when you learn about crime punishment, you get to have your mugshot taken and sit in a jail cell. Be sure to look at the display of cool crime artifacts which include objects from President Lincoln’s unfortunate assassination.

We hope you visit all of these museums in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! If you need ideas for more vacation activities, check out this list of 4 can’t-miss things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge!