Pigeon Forge Attraction · Museums & Attractions
About Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Alcatraz East Crime Museum takes a hands-on look at American history from the other side of the law. Housed in a building styled like a prison at the entrance to The Island in Pigeon Forge, the 25,000-square-foot museum spreads over two floors and has more than 100 interactive exhibits. Five galleries cover notorious criminals from pirates and Old West outlaws to Depression-era gangsters and modern white-collar crime, along with the consequences of crime, forensic science, law enforcement and counterfeit goods. Visitors can try a lie detector, step into a jail cell, crack a safe and test their crime-solving skills. Famous artifacts on display include the white Bronco from the O.J. Simpson chase, the Bonnie and Clyde “Death Car” from the 1967 film, Al Capone’s rosary and Ted Bundy’s dental molds. Temporary exhibits, often produced with outside organizations, rotate through the museum throughout the year, so repeat visitors usually find something new.
Plan Your Visit
📍 Address
2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
📞 Phone
(865) 453-3278
🕒 Hours
See the official website for current hours.
Hours and address
Alcatraz East is at 2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, and the phone number is (865) 453-3278. The museum lists its hours as 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The last ticket is sold one hour before closing, and hours can change for holidays, special events and the season, so check the official site before you go.
Two artifacts people come to see
Ted Bundy’s Volkswagen Beetle is part of the collection, along with a typewriter he used in prison. The white Ford Bronco from the O.J. Simpson chase is here too, and the museum notes that the chase footage was never shown during the trial.
Tips
- Some of the subject matter is heavy. The museum is interactive and plenty of families come, but parents may want to look over the galleries first if they have young kids.
- Give yourself at least a couple of hours so you are not rushing through the interactive parts.
Nearby
The museum sits at the entrance to The Island in Pigeon Forge, where parking and admission are free. Ride The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel after, and the Titanic Museum Attraction is a short drive down the Parkway.
Photo at top: courtesy of Alcatraz East.