Titanic Pigeon Forge prepares for voyage

[Andrew Clarkson]

“This is not an amusement park or attraction,” is the first thing Mary Kellogg tells a visitor. “This is a memorial to the people of Titanic.” You can see, the moment you are in the Preview Center, the 30,000 square foot project of Titanic Pigeon Forge is serious.

Danita Brown, Vice President of Operations and visiting from Titanic Branson, explains to a visitor the temperature and effects of the water “on the victims the night she sank on April 14, 1912 at around 12:40am when the first lifeboat, # 7, was launched.” Another guide, Preview Center Manager Lorene Boatner, compares the 1912 costs of a first class cabin to 2009 American dollars. When Titanic Pigeon Forge drops its gangplank in spring of 2010, visitors, “will feel like they are on Titanic,” says Co-owner Kellogg, from receipt of a passenger “ticket” to touching an “ice wall.”

Mary Kellogg must have inherited the spirit of Titanic Chief Designer Thomas Andrews. Andrews knew every bolt, every minuscule detail. He referred to the shipyard laborers as “my real pals” and was known to stand up for them, from shipyard labor to worker’s rights, despite socially enforced class differences. Employees and partners alike said he was warm, honest, knowledgeable, and he loved Titanic. Mary Kellogg knows Titanic Pigeon Forge. After working at the helm of Walt Disney marketing for over 30 years, she now pilots this project with warmth and style. “She’s wonderful!” Says Lorene Boatner. Danita Brown echoes the sentiment, adding, “She can tell you everything about this museum. And more.” Kellogg gave examiner.com an exclusive tour of Titanic Pigeon Forge under construction, the first tour of its kind. She does not need a map. She greets the construction crew by first name, and they smile and wave back warmly. From the construction worker who drills the bolts to Co-owner John Joslyn, (president of Cedar Bay Entertainment, parent company of Branson’s Titanic Museum Attraction), this is a labor of love.

Boarding Titanic Pigeon Forge

“Ken Marschall is the Titanic artist,” Mary Kellogg says excitedly as we enter what will be the main hallway. “His paintings will be hung in the entryway,” and on opening day he’ll be on board. It is difficult to discern Marschall’s paintings from photographs. His love of the nautical is evident in his art.

“We found people want to see the inside of the ship,” Mary Kellogg explains how research went into customer relations. So, for the first time in the world, Titanic Pigeon Forge will feature a section of interactive cutaways of the internal ship sections featuring simulations of actual passengers in various areas. Push a button and see John Jacob Astor in the gymnasium. “The story comes to life.”

A room currently composed of steel girders will be “The Father Browne Room,” featuring the photographs of Father Francis Browne, who took the last photographs of Titanic, to include Captain Smith. “Without Father Browne, there would be no photographs of Titanic (at sea),” Mary Kellogg says, respect in her voice. The discovery of these photographs is a legend in itself.

Isidor and Ida Strauss’ first class cabin is being recreated as an exhibit (this is the room used in James Cameron’s film, for the scenes of Rose Dewitt’s cabin). The Strauss’s refused to leave one another as the ship was sinking and died together. It is a story that sobers you, and defines love. The opulence of the ship is characterized here, particularly the craftsmanship.

The Wheelhouse will be recreated, so visitors can see what it was like to be here the night the message was received: “iceberg…” Standing with Mary Kellogg, right now you are looking into a blank wall and imagining where the polished telegraphs will be placed. But there is still a chill in the air…

When Titanic Pigeon Forge drops its gangplank in spring of 2010, visitors, “will feel like they are on Titanic,” says Co-owner and tour guide Mary Kellogg, from receipt of a “ticket” to touching the 28(F) degree water. Kellogg gave an exclusive tour of Titanic Pigeon Forge under construction, the first tour of its kind, to examiner.com.

The room reserved for the recreation of a third class cabin is much smaller than anticipated, and it isn’t near completion; for now, it is just a shell of drywall. Imagine a family of four or more in here. Mary Kellogg stops in the hallway. “This hall is the actual size of one of the 3rd class hallways you would have found on Titanic.” You stretch your arms out at your sides and can almost touch both walls. Think of so many people, towing little ones, carrying their life’s belongings in a few cases, languages mixing in the air. There was excitement upon boarding, replaced by terror only so many nights later.

Visitors may stand at a “ship’s railing” and gaze into a clear, starry night just as it was on the night of April 14, 1912. It had been such a calm sea that survivors reported Captain Smith compared it to “a mill pond.” From here, visitors walk into a theatre, featuring comfortable and ample seating, for a short film on the ship. “People need to know what Titanic was, what she meant,” Mary Kellogg says emphatically, a small catch in her voice. “I put together a short video on her, to explain why she meant so much. So we’ll remember.”

The entire tour is self-guided, meaning you may take a few hours or all day exploring, and as we walk though Mary Kellogg continually points out where glass display cases will hold artifacts not removed from the watery grave but donated by survivors. The museum encompasses the senses – smell, touch, hearing – and there is something for everyone. “Children will not be bored,” Danita Brown, Vice President of Operations from Titanic Branson, assures. Mary Kellogg is proud of the children’s educational center, where kids can “steer” a ship and try to master a sloping “deck,” not just learning and experiencing, but interacting with history.

Behind the scenes, Mary Kellogg shows the dressing and training rooms for staff. “We train our staff on Titanic history,” she says emphatically. “They know about the passengers, the ship,” the history of the times. Exuberant employees whose focus will be customer satisfaction and Titanic lore will don period costumes. There will be a gift shop, but compared to the rest of the building it is surprisingly small. For a true Titanic buff, this is good news: so much of Titanic has been commercialized. It is also good news for visitors who like souvenirs, as there will be an array of carefully – selected, multiple priced items. The rates for the museum were also carefully considered. “We want this to be an experience available for all people,” Preview Center Manager Lorene Boatner explains. The cost of a ticket is equivalent to a movie with popcorn, drink, and a snack.

Outside, Mary Kellogg excitedly points out the bow of the ship, where a simulated wave will continuously churn, giving the impression the Titanic of Pigeon Forge is in motion. Her excitement for this project and affection of Titanic is contagious. Two construction crewmembers stop to consult with her, and when a visitor encourages them to “build faster!” One of them chides, in a wonderful accent straight out of Harland and Wolff, “all good things to those who wait!”

Despite the fact she’s currently only made of wood and steel beams, there is an air of magic around Titanic Pigeon Forge. Perhaps it is the obvious love and pride in the project by her employees, the same instilled by Harland and Wolff. Maybe it’s the history coming to life after 100 years. Possibly it’s this exclusive tour made so engaging with Mary Kellogg’s enthusiasm and knowledge; like Thomas Andrews, she knows her ship. But, if you turn your back for just a moment on the 2009 outside, you can almost hear Captain Smith call out, “welcome aboard Titanic!”

Source: http://www.examiner.com