New Pigeon Forge attraction recreates mystic, magic of Titanic

Anchored in a sea of tourism is an attraction that's hard to miss in Pigeon Forge. The massive ship-shaped structure is a tribute to the most famous ocean liner in history, the Titanic.

"This was an amazing ship where first class passengers paid a fortune and lived in elegance," said Doug Bartlett, Titanic Museum Consultant.

On nearly six acres, a half-scale replica of the vessel is taking shape.

"Basically, you'll ticket into here," said Frank Turner, Titanic Museum Project Manager, as he describes the main entrance.

And, with a simple boarding pass, history will come alive.

"You become a member on the ship, one of the passengers," said Turner. "And, as you go through the attraction, you'll find out how you fared."

The Titanic Museum is the brain child of John and Mary Kellog-Joslyn. He lead one of the first expeditions to the wreckage site in the 1987. When complete, the Titanic Museum will be a permanent memorial.

"Everyone can produce a flat hull," said Bartlett, describing construction of the ship-shaped museum. "This is very much a living beast."

Like the original vessel, building this Titanic has been no small task.

"You have to understand it to recreate it," said Bartlett. "Otherwise, you're just putting a cardboard box on a set of drawings."

"We spent over a year planning for this area before we ever turned a stone," said Turner.

A year, 400 tons of steel and 240,000 pounds of stucco later, workers are starting to see the resemblance.

"We have carvers, sculptors and artists that will take this and take it to the next level," said Bartlett.

The centerpiece of the museum is the Titanic's grand staircase.

"Everything on the grand staircase is as it was on the ship," said Turner. "The only thing that's had to be added is the grip rail for code."

The grand staircase is one of 20 galleries showcasing hundreds of artifacts that are on loan. In addition to the memorabilia, the attraction is very hands-on, featuring hundreds of interactives. For example, guests will be able to feel the frigid water passengers endured in the North Atlantic. There is even an exhibit dedicated to the wreckage site two miles below the surface.

With the museum's maiden voyage just months away, for this ship and the construction crew, it's full steam ahead.

The Titanic Museum will open Spring 2010. Right now, you can visit the preview center on site. The is the second Titanic Museum the Joslyns have built. The original opened in Branson, Missouri in 2006.