4 Awesome Exhibits at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum

Pigeon Forge is a city filled with fun attractions, some of which include its cool museums. Visitors learn information about cool topics through fun and engaging activities. One of these attractions is the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. It is fitting that this museum is named after the once-famous military fort and maximum security prison in San Francisco CA, for it takes visitors through the history of crime in the United States. Learn more about what it has to offer as you read over this list of 4 awesome exhibits at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum:

1. A Notorious History of American Crime

As technology has evolved, so have the crimes people commit. Visitors get to see this timeline through interactive activities. Practice your shooting skills as an outlaw in the Wild West and become a cybercriminal when you attempt to hack into a fictitious website. You can also try to break into a safe. Along with these activities, other things to see here include a collection of torture devices from the Middle Ages and Colonial America. There is even a life-size pillory that visitors can stick their heads and hands through, which makes for a great photo opportunity.

2. Punishment: The Consequence of Crime

Now that you know how crime has evolved, it is fitting to learn about the consequences of these actions. The exhibit’s goal is to defy Hollywood’s way of glamourizing criminals and expose visitors to the harsh consequences of committing a crime. The museum’s full-scale model police station holds a variety of eye-opening experiences. These include getting chosen from a police lineup, having your mugshot and fingerprints taken, and sitting in a jail cell. You can even see if you’re smart enough to outwit a lie detector test. As for artifacts, you will see a collection of punishment devices, such as a guillotine, gas chamber, electric chair, and lethal injection machine. Some of these are still used today.

3. Crime Scene Investigation

The Alcatraz East Crime Museum also has a Crime Scene Investigation exhibit where visitors learn about forensic science and the ways in which evidence is gathered. Some of these techniques include ballistics, fingerprinting, and facial reconstruction. As for interactive activities, you can become a detective when you step onto a model of a lifelike crime scene and figure out who committed a murder. Additionally, there is also a model of a morgue where visitors can learn more about autopsies.

4. Crime Fighting Exhibit and Artifacts Center

Now that you’ve learned about all the aspects of the history of crime in the United States, it’s time to learn about how it is prevented. Go into a simulator and experience a high-speed police chase. You can also learn more about thermal imaging technology and how it helps law enforcement find hidden options. Along with its exhibits and interactive activities, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum is also known for its Artifacts Center. It is filled with items from infamous American crimes and the belongings of serial killers. Some of the things displayed here include items from President Lincoln’s assassination and a painting by John Wayne Gacy.

We hope you enjoy all these exhibits at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. This attraction is conveniently located at The Island in Pigeon Forge! For more fun stuff to do here, check out this list of the top 5 attractions at The Island in Pigeon Forge you need to experience!