The Smoky Mountains are full of fascinating museums that your family will love. They cover a variety of topics so you can be sure to find something that will catch your eye. It is the perfect way to have a blast, while also learning some amazing information! Here are 4 of the best museums in Gatlinburg you need to visit:
1. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
Even though Gatlinburg is full of specialty museums, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum might be the most unique of them all! It features over 20,000 sets of salt and pepper shakers! When you visit, you will see shakers of all different shapes, colors, and sizes. The most interesting fact about the museum is how it came to be. One day, the owners discovered they did not have a pepper mill to use at home. Therefore, they set out on a journey to find one. At first, they just had one or two sitting in the windowsill of their home. Over time, it grew to three or four and then they began to realize they all looked different. That is where the idea struck to start collecting both salt and pepper shakers. Fast forward a few years and now you have one of the best museums in Gatlinburg.
2. Hollywood Star Cars Museum
If you are a fan of classic television shows and movies, you need to visit the Hollywood Star Cars Museum)! It features a massive car collection from the most popular entertainment industry blockbusters. As you walk through the museum, you will recognize some of these hot rods straight from the big screen! One of the most popular vehicles on display is the 1969 Dodge Charger from the famous Dukes of Hazzard. Some of the other films that are featured in the museum include Batman, Transformers, and Smokey and the Bandit. In addition to having cars from hit television shows and movies, the museum also has a section of cars that were driven by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley! You and your family will have a great time reliving the past at the Hollywood Star Cars Museum!
3. Ripley’s Believe It or Not
They say some things you have to see to believe. Ripley’s Believe It or Not takes that one step further. Some of the amazing exhibits you will experience you may not believe even after you see it! After all, where else can you see a car completely covered in crystals, authentic shrunken heads, and two headed animals? This amazing museum consists of 12 themed galleries containing over 500 mind boggling exhibits and oddities. Your family will have a blast venturing around and seeing all the mind blowing amazements!
4. Smoky Mountain Art Gallery
The goal of the Smoky Mountain Art Gallery is to support local artists that live in the Great Smoky Mountains. It features paintings and sculptures from 35 different up and coming artists. When you visit, there is a good chance you will see one of the artists lounging around the gallery or maybe working on their next masterpiece. If you have any questions about any of the pieces you see, feel free to ask the artists or the museum staff and they are more than happy to help! The next time you are in Gatlinburg, help support the local artists and take a trip to the Smoky Mountain Art Gallery.
Now that you know about some of the best museums in Gatlinburg, be sure to check out some of the other great attractions to visit while you are in town! We hope to see you soon in the Smoky Mountains!
