The Titanic of Tennessee with concrete iceberg
Today, on the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with the loss of 1,514 lives, it would be appropriate for a learned historian at an august university to sit down to ponder the commercialization of history and to consider how our consumer culture turns tragedy into theme parks.
This came to mind from articles about the Titanic of Tennessee, a sort of half-length half scale replica of the ship in the mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee which opened as a “museum attraction” two years ago. (See our previous post, Titanic Museum to Open in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?) I am not sure exactly what a “museum attraction might be. Fortunately Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, the Titanic Museum Attractions owner explains, “This museum is not a thrill ride or Hollywood style museum. It is an interactive experience that brings in all elements of the famous and tragic Titanic story for families to experience.” One can only hope that bringing in all elements of the experience does not include drowning in the dark in icy water. That would certainly cut down on repeat visitors.
The “Titanic Museum Attraction” in Pigeon Forge,TN is one of two such creations. The other is in Branson, Missouri. According to the Washington Post, some forty descendants of the survivors of the Titanic will be visiting the two museums in Tennessee and Missouri today to commemorate the sinking.
Why are there two Titanic museums in the mountains of Tennessee and the plains of Missouri? Both Pigeon Forge and Branson are resort towns that exist primarily to entertain vacation travelers. The two museum attractions are just another entertainment venue competing for vacationer’s dollars.
Pigeon Forge has a population of less than 6,000 people and yet attracts 11 million visitors yearly. In addition to the Titanic Museum, attractions include the Dollywood theme park, the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, the Country Tonight Theatre, the Comedy Barn, Wonderworks, the Miracle Theater, Dixie Stampede, Zorb, Flyaway Indoor Skydiving,the National Elvis Museum, and Nascar Speedpark.
Branson’s population is around 10,000 and attracts over 7 million guests. Branson is best known for its music halls featuring country and pop music. Other Branson attractions include the Hollywood Wax Museum, Silver Dollar City, White Water, Waltzing Waters, Mount Pleasant Winery, Stone Hill Winery, Ride The Ducks, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, The Haunted House and Monster Asylum, Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, Predator World and Branson Landing.
It is unfair to single out the two Titanic Museum attractions as examples of commercialized history. It seems that, in the eyes of many, their views on piracy are informed by a series of movies based on a Disney theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. Likewise, earlier this year, it was announced that the French are planning to build a ‘Napoleonland’ theme park which will stage daily re-enactments of Battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar. And not quite a decade ago, Disney proposed opening a theme park in Virginia near the sites of Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields. After complaints from historians and some difficulty in transforming slavery and slaughter into fun-filled theme park rides, Disney shelved the idea.
One can only hope that future generations do not learn their history in theme parks and “museum attractions.” That may be too much to ask.
Thanks to Alaric Bond, Phil Leon and Brian Frizell for contributing to the post.
I have a great deal of admiration for the work of the authors on The Old Salt Blog, including Rick, but I am shocked at the condescending tone of this rant. It betrays a desire to somehow protect history from the “great unwashed,” the same sort of tone that kept immigrants in steerage on Titanic. In the universe advocated here, there’s only one “proper” way to discuss history: from a lectern. I’m reminded of why most people don’t “get” high art, such as modern dance or abstract painting: It’s almost completely inaccessible to the average person, intellectually or emotionally. The snootiness of some gatekeepers of history may be precisely why it suffers from so little respect by The People Who Don’t Know As Much.
I believe historians of all stripes should encourage these roadside attractions and ventures that use historical events to make a buck. In my personal experience in the tall ship world, Disney-fied pirates, reenactments, and commemorations are gateways to more sober discussions of history. When someone shows up as Jack Sparrow, it demonstrates an openness to learn more about a time and place, not a twisted view of the past.
Come down off your ivory towers and engage with the rest of us who would like to learn something.
We will obviously have to agree to disagree on this point.
There are many ways indeed to learn, and if you think the best way is by frequenting a theme park attraction in Tennessee, wedged between Dollywood and the National Elvis Museum, well, that is indeed your choice. It is not mine. I have no objections to those who spend their vacation dollars in Dollywood, or Branson or anywhere else, but that isn’t really the point, is it?
As you know quite well, there were numerous wonderful and entertaining Titanic exhibits and commemorations all around the country, and indeed the world, marking the centennial of the tragedy. I never suggested that the only way to learn history was “from a lectern,” as you claim. I just don’t happen to think that a commercial “attraction” with a concrete iceberg where the tickets are $20.68 + tax ($60.56 + tax for a Family Pass) and don’t forget to visit the gift shop, is a particularly good way to learn history either. I am sure that the Pigeon Forge Titanic “museum attraction” has more to do with the Cameron movie than the sinking itself, just as the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies have far more to do with the Disney log flume ride by the same name than they do with history.
And I do not agree that person dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow “demonstrates an openness to learn more about a time and place,” anymore than I believe that when someone dresses up as firefighter at Halloween he or she really wants to go out and fight fires.
My concern with the commercialization of history is that it too often interferes with learning by throwing up so much nonsense that the real history, which is usually far more interesting, gets lost.
I will also admit to getting touchy over fake 17th century pirates shouting “aargh” and swinging plastic swords, while real pirates hold several hundred mariners hostage under horrible conditions, something that the dress up pirates usually are either unaware or not too concerned about.
And by the way Joe, as a proud owner of the Fyddeye Guide to America’s Maritime History, I note that you do not include “museum attractions” in either Branson or Pigeon Forge.
Yes, I agree we’ll have to disagree on these issues, but I appreciate your comments. BTW, I became aware of the Branson and Pigeon Forge attractions after I published my book. An oversight on my part. I’ve now included both in my online directory, and they’ll appear in the next edition.