Three people were taken to a local hospital after they were injured while visiting the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The incident occurred when part of an iceberg wall collapsed, though the extent of the victims’ injuries is unknown at this time, WKRN reports. Many have found the accident eerie considering the historical context of the museum, but hopefully the visitors affected will make a full recovery.
- The collapse of the iceberg wall happened on Monday night. As owners Mary Kellogg Joslyn and John Joslyn revealed, they had no idea that there was any lack of stability in the wall and there were no signs that a collapse was imminent. “Needless to say, we never would have expected an incident like this to occur as the safety of our guests and team members is always top of mind. We take pride in the quality of our maintenance and have measures in place to ensure that appropriate safety guidelines are upheld,” they said in a statement.
- The museum closed after the wall collapsed. While the owners closed the attraction following the incident, the museum reopened on Tuesday for those visitors who had previously purchased tickets. However, the iceberg wall remains blocked off and it will likely take up to a month to repair.
- When the attraction reopens, the owners promise it will be better (and safer) than ever. “Our maintenance professionals are in the process of reevaluating our quality and safety guidelines and we’ll make all modifications, as necessary, to proactively ensure the well-being of all who experience Titanic Museum Attractions,” the statement continued.
- The museum opened in 2010 and has been incredibly popular. Located in a popular tourist area near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood, the Titanic Museum Attraction get boarding passes with the name of passengers and crew members on the original voyage as part of their admission. The museum is the home of nearly 400 artifacts including a deck chair and pieces of china from the ship’s dining rooms.
