I'm definitely not a history buff, but I do like true crime shows, and this place was fantastic! We spent about 2.5 hours inside and honestly could have spent even more time. It wasn't crowded when we went, which made it really easy to take our time and look around. There are a ton of cool and interesting stories and exhibits covering everything from the late 1800s all the way up to more current crimes and events. I was surprised by how much there was to see. We did the basic package with the family and, in my opinion, that was plenty. If you have younger kids, probably under 11 or 12, they may not get as much out of the museum until you get toward the end. There are some hands-on activities there, including half of a police car they can sit in and turn the lights on, drunk goggles, a police motorcycle you can sit on, and a tunnel where you can try to "escape" from jail. Overall, just a really cool place. I'm sure there was stuff I missed even after spending 2.5 hours there. I would definitely go back and do it again! read more

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I am beyond a true crime enthusiast. I pretty much only read and watch true crime oriented media. This was my second trip to the museum. I was worried that there wouldn't be any new exhibits but I was surprised and happy to find the opposite to be true. They have definitely expanded and updated since my last visit. If you enjoy true crime and/or history this is a great spot to visit. On the crime side of things they have a wide range of crimes-not just serial killers or murder. (They do have a Ted Bundy VW beetle and 2 John Wayne Gacy clown costumes on display). They also have areas for financial crimes, etc. History wise they start off in medieval era, then the Wild West, mafia to present day. Nice exhibit on 911. Interactive exhibits too, like DUI and autopsy. Well worth the price of admission to me. Easily a couple hours of stuff to do. Especially nice on a rainy day! read more

Alcatraz East - Part of torture exhibit. - Museums Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Want to start by saying that all the small kids that were here during our visit looked super bored so this is probably not the place to bring kids for a fun time. The museum is much bigger then it looks so you will spend a while here. Most of the things require reading so keep that in mind as well. Overall a pretty good spot to entertain yourself if you are a true crime fan. read more

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This was one of my favorite museum that I have visited out of town. Not only was it informative it was interactive too. There were areas where you could answer questions about what you just read and see if you retained information. You could go behind bars and take pictures like you were locked up. You could take a picture of a motorcycle. Learn about Ted Bundt, and OJ. You could learn about cold cases and people you never heard of before which was the best part for me. read more

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The museum is huge, and packed wall to wall with interesting artifacts that will thrill any true crime aficionado. There is A LOT to read, so plan accordingly. We brought our 4 year-old, and there were times when I went through an exhibit a little faster than I might otherwise simply because he was getting antsy. Still, there were enough things to look at, that - overall - he was entertained. My 9 year-old got a crash course in evil... He read a detailed description of what was found in Jeffrey Dahmer's house. (Although the museum says there is nothing inappropriate for children, you may want to take into account whether your kids are ready for this.) My kids continue talking about this museum and we will remember it always. read more

Very dark inside and involves ALOT of reading. Make sure you bring your magnifiers. We did not feel it was worth $143 for 4 of us. No one in our group enjoyed this. I would not spend money here again. read more

We went here as part of a group tour. We were fortunate to have our group gain entry about 30 minutes before the official opening time. The staff were all very courteous and friendly. We were given a good overview of the museum and participated in a quiz on the exhibits. Each person received a small device that would provide audio commentary on each numbered exhibit. They have a lot of interesting items on display and each area has a different theme pertaining to crime, punishment, and justice. Near the end are several vehicles from some notorious cases. It was a good tour and I'd recommend it if you like these type of museums. read more

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If you have itty bitties, think before going!! This is a great museum with lots of exhibits with detailed insight at them all. So there is LOTS of reading. So this becomes a 1.5-2 hour engagement. It can be dark in areas, so if you're the owner of old eyes. Break out the iPhone flashlight. The rooms are designed to be progressive thru the years (the Middle Ages were messed up!!!). So the pacing is well thought. We went in the off season and it wasn't crowded. I could see during the season, it could be a challenge. Lots of middle aged women that listen to "those podcasts". So husbands be wary when wives start nodding at one another. A great place to go on a "weather" day. As a side note, the staff made a point of stating that all but four display items were authentic and not recreations. read more

The day I booked this reservation, the museum was closed due to a snowstorm. Luckily, it reopened the next day and we were able to attend. This museum offers a wide variety of exhibits showcasing crime history, including artifacts, memorabilia, and interactive displays. My sister and I really enjoyed exploring the museum, and it took us about two hours to complete it. It was both very informative and fun, especially with the interactive activities and opportunities to take some great photos. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area. read more

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Genuinely positively surprised by this museum! We did the guided tour and scavenger hunt and it was awesome! There is truly SO much to see in this museum, we literally lost track of time and spent almost 3 hours here! They have crime from past all the way to present, and I was pleasantly surprised at how up to date it is, crime-wise! If you like crime documentaries and true crime, it's a MUST while you are here!! read more

Cool museum!!! We really enjoyed our visit. If you really want to take everything in plan on at least two hours for your visit. I do not recommend for younger kids - lots of reading and I could see them getting bored easily. My kids are 12 and 16 and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. Added bonus-military discount! Thank you!! read more

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If you like creepy stiff and everything true crime, you will love this. This is in a prime spot right next to the Island of Pigeon Forge so it's a popular spot. We were lucky where it wasn't so crowded so we can see everything. There is a lot to look at. The museum ranges from disasters, serial killers and even items they used in the past. It was expensive to get in. It's a tourist trap so I was not surprised but it was worth it. We spent about 2 hours here looking at everything so you do get your time's worth read more

Mixed review on this one.. our child kept asking to go. I assumed the museum had a focus on Alcatraz and some other crime things. It is more a crime museum with Alcatraz looking building. Many interesting exhibits. There are lots of signs. If you want an audio tour it's an additional charge. If you want to do certain games it is an extra charge. They had some very detailed things about crime thru eras from medieval times to present day. They had exhibits on policing and on prisoners. Lots of information. We learned so much about crime and punishment. It was a one and done for me.. it was interesting but not my cup of tea read more

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My third visit! Brought a friend that has never been to TN. Her and I are both into the true crime subject, and this place has it all. It's very interesting. There are a lot of things that really make your skin crawl, and there are things that give you goosebumps and a lump in your throat, but it's a must for any crime enthusiast. Well worth the trip. read more

Great place to visit. Lots of interesting exhibits that really tell the story of crime and punishment in the US. Wide variety of things to see. Definitely worth it, good value for the admission price. read more

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As a LEO and psychology/criminology major, I was stepping right in the middle of everything I have learned. I LOVED reading about crimes and punishments dating back to pirates and the early 1600's, Bonnie and Clyde and some of the OG's from the time period of mobsters and gang members, as well as the more known perpetrators like John Gacey and Ted Bundy. There are training advancements with tactical and technological systems within forensics, which also aid in our scientific and criminological perspectives. There is a LOT of information and l recommend ATLEAST 4 hours, but since it was a refresher and overview, we made it in 2.5 read more

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Pros: Lots of reading and very educational Cons: Nothing for little kids, very boring for them. The shooting room is extra cost which was a long time into all the reading, then not much else. Then The laser room also extra and not included. These should be included just so kids can have something to do or more interactive for them. Very little about alcatraz, a lot about criminals and history of all different kinds of criminals. Would be better if there were more for kids to do so parents can enjoy reading. read more

I was a little worried this place would just be a silly tourist trap but I was wrong! The place is huge and has so many cool artifacts. I was really amazed. Lots of serial killer stuff I thought was interesting. Tons of stuff from Bundy and Gacy. They even had an entire room of cars, including Ted Bundys bug. Really awesome place. It took us several hours to get through it all. read more

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I normally don't do these types of activities when I'm on a vacation, but being a true crime buff and my wife being a police officer, we had to check out the crime museum. It took us about an hour and a half to do the self guided tour. They also offer a is count for first responders. The exhibits were all very interesting and I was very impressed at the items in each exhibit. It was all so interesting. There were plenty of photo ops throughout the tour, and interactive things you can do. They also take a photo at the bend ginning and can make copies for a small fee. I don't know how often they change their exhibits, but they had Ted Bundy's actual VW beetle and OJ's bronco. Of course you can't touch or look inside but it was still super cool to see both of those. It's a fun thing to do if you're into true crime read more

Alcatraz East - Photo op - Museums Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Four stars. Informative and a bit in the creepy side. Lots of displays along with vehicles such as the white Bronco from the son chase and Ted Bundys VW. John Wayne Gaceys clown costumes gave me the creeps read more

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it was very interesting but more reading than I had thought. You had to read all the descriptions slowly because seceral were either reprodutions or models similar to the item that was originally used read more

A must do doe anyone who loves true crime. So much history in one building.There is a lot to see and do. Photo ops of items from some of America's most prolific criminals. read more

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I personally loved this museum! I thought it was fascinating, it was in a convenient location since it is located on the Island, and it had lots to look at. I think when I went, they had a pair of Dahmer's glasses, which made everyone feel a little uneasy just looking at them. I had that uneasy feeling frequently, but I am pretty sure that is intentional. I have nothing negative to say. read more

This may be the best value attraction in all of Pigeon Forge. We spent 2.5 hours here and it's not a stretch to say you could spend much more. read more

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Freakin Awesome!!! Totally recommend Alcatraz east the have amazing stories and awesome historical Artifacts and at times very chilling my wife and i will go back for sure the staff was pretty great and very helpful had the best experience,,,thank you so much read more

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I was super excited to come here as I love true crime. I literally fall asleep watching true crime every night LOL. This place did not disappoint! This was another one that I highly recommend unless you don't care for crime. If you don't like learning about anything crime related, you need to skip this for sure. I spent about 3 1/2 hours there so you definitely get your moneys worth. This place is HUGE and there is so much to see and read. I didn't care for the first 2 or 3 rooms... it was just pirates, mobs, etc. I am not interested in that as I like more current things happening or happened. They had things about kidnappings, 9-11, mass shootings, CSI exhibit, prison's, and the current Bonnie and Clyde exhibit. This place literally has EVERYTHING... any crime you could think of, they have. They had a collection of items owned by famous serial killers, a small collection of cars, Caylee Anthony's Winnie the Pooh backpack, a bag from Selena's boutique, and more! There was tons of little kids there... I probably wouldn't bring a little kid here. I think it's more for teens and higher age groups but whatever... every kid is different! They also have a good gift shop. I did not buy anything but they have some great stuff! I highly, highly recommend this place and would DEFINITELY be back if I was in the area! read more

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Interesting place and has many add-on options to make it more interactive and educational. There are even a few spots sprinkled throughout to quiz your knowledge or engage with visitors. Yes, it is pricy (approximately $30 per adult after the fees), but you can easily find coupons online and this is pretty standard pricing for tourist destinations. The online booking is a tad unclear, as it only looks like a 10 am option daily. This is just when they open, but you can go any time within their biz hours. You're booking the day, not the time slot. Even though we had purchased online, we still needed to stand in line for a good 30 minutes prior to redeeming our tix at the counter. Have your tickets printed or the email pulled up and ready to rock and they look it up in their system. There are many exhibits throughout, many that you wouldn't even think of initially: medieval, scammers, traitors, witch trials, pirates, whistleblowers, heists, kidnappings, mobsters, etc. There are the more well-known areas, like the CSI, serial killers, and the famous cars and rotating exhibits downstairs from Bonnie and Clyde, OJ's Bronco and more. There were tributes to 9-11 and the countless mass shooting victims as well as an expansive area about law enforcement. There is info sprinkled throughout about Alcatraz, which is such a unique place! This is a good place for teens and adults who are intrigued by crime history in the U.S. I do not think it is a good fit for those with young kids, as they would likely be bored as you jockey for space with the hordes of people trying to read the many signs alongside you. It is very reading-intensive but I feel that it was worth a visit. read more

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This was an interesting museum. It had more historical info than I thought it would, besides true crime. Basically it had info on everything related to crime, from medieval times to present. There were interesting pictures and real life objects, including the white Bronco from the infamous OJ Simpson chase. I didn't like that they charged extra for audio. We ended up not getting it and it was fine. This is a great museum for not just crime buffs but also for history buffs. read more

This place was AWESOME!!!! I spent a couple hours in here and easily could've done more. The lines are long for a good reason, but they do a good job of keeping it moving. Also, none of the rooms were overcrowded and there was always something else to look at! Very unique collections and I loved the information provided at each item. Also, huge kudos for the law enforcement and criminal justice section...everything about Alcatraz East was super interesting. I would go back because I know I missed things, too. Price was great for what you got. read more

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I love true crime so a place like this is just a must go to for me. I still loved the Titanic museum more but this was a very close 2nd. This is just my element lol. Think I scared my husband by basically knowing every story already :P I also found it amusing the Soho fake heiress was featured (we're from Ny) sad the 911 part and reminds me we need to go to the thing they have in NYC. I also after seeing a mention of bad Vegan in here, watched the documentary once home from vacation. Anyway if you like true crime and all this kind of stuff you'll love this place. My hubs who has gotten more into this kind of stuff thanks to me, enjoyed himself :P our 5 year old was also having way to much fun going behind the wanted poster and jail cell bars :P read more

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This is an amazing must see museum in Pigeon Forge! So much crime history packed into one building! You are bound to spend a few hours here exploring the artifacts, interactive exhibits and more. I highly recommend the audio tour as you'll learn more about some of the artifacts and the most infamous criminals. This museum can't be missed! read more

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We had such a great time visiting. I would recommend you have least 5 hours to walk through when it's not crowded and you're wanting to read the majority of the information and complete the little scavenger hunt. If you're only worried about the audible tour then you could probably get in and out in under 3 hours. I appreciated how the exhibits had been updated recently to include recent discoveries as in the Natalie Holloway case. It's great to know they are staying on top of the crimes that are still unsolved. read more

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The wait is long. Everything else is great! There were lots of artifacts and it was cool to see Jeffrey Dahmer's glasses and OJ's Bronco were cool. read more

The museum is more focused on crime bosses and their families. It is long so prepare yourself. I would recommend you go at least once if you enjoy history or true crime. Otherwise, maybe your dont even try it. read more

Fun experience and I recommend getting the audio guide. They also have a veteran and first responder discount. Give yourself a couple of hours. read more

First, they were extremely busy today, but staff were very good with keeping us informed on wait times, so we wouldn't miss other scheduled events that day. As normal prices are very high in these establishments, but that is to be expected. Over all very clean kept up by staff. The only negative of the whole day was in the gift shop after I spent $150 going through the tour, I then had to pay $8.0 dollars for a sticker. Me personally I feel there are other areas in the gift shop they could make their money. Not on stickers or small souvenir items that kids would enjoy and could be something they could have and remember the great memories and bring their kids back. Not Alcatraz East they want to gouged every penny. I was very disappointed at the end, but as I stated earlier, overall a great experience, just very sad that they continued to try and squeeze every penny out of you after spinning a large amount with them already purchasing all VIP tours I would think a sticker is the least you should get in purchasing such a large package deal. Good luck to the next family. read more

Alcatraz East - Alcatraz East Museum out front - Museums Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Interesting stuff to see and look at, definitely worth the money. Some of the staff seemed to be a little bit too much at times. My husband accidentally took a picture and his flash was on and the lady walked up to him and told him no flash. He instantly told her it was an accident. She then proceeded to continue saying no flash and he needs to not do that. read more

This museum was great! I loved the quizzes on the computer. There was so many hands-on activities, it just made the experience so much better specially when you have kids. Also for like $5 more you get unlimited use of the laser room. I felt it was more of intense cardio, We're a competitive family, so I was definitely exhausted and sore after spending like 45 minutes competing with my family to see who would achieve the goal in the lowest amount of time! Lol. We also enjoyed shooting the targets!! Warning, the card machines do not work. It's a hit or miss. Thankfully we had some cash and were able to play but many people were bummed out about it not taking any form of card payments though they had the machines. It did have a bunch of cool artifacts. This is one of the best museums we ever visited!! They do offer military discounts but only in person not online. read more

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As a dedicated true crime fan, I really enjoyed the vast amount of artifacts and history this museum offered. It is almost a bit too large and overwhelming actually! Be prepared for some topics that are more recent and might hit closer to home, as well as some older ones. Super interesting and definitely worthwhile if you're a true crime fanatic. read more

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If you're a True Crime fan this is a must stop. From OJ Bronco & Golf Clubs on display to darker items like Wayne Gacy clown suits.