New three-hour Titanic special to air on NBC Knoxville (WBIR) this Saturday evening

March 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Knoxville, Tenn. — This Saturday evening Knoxville’s WBIR will broadcast three hours of Titanic programming beginning at 8 p.m.  The special, called “An Evening Aboard The Titanic” starts with a two-hour documentary produced by John Joslyn, owner of the new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge.  Joslyn organized the $6 million expedition in 1987 that brought the world its first images of the Titanic in her final resting place two and a half miles beneath the surface of the ocean.  The documentary follows Joslyn and his crew as the spend 45 days at seas and make 32 dives to the Titanic to capture riveting video.

Following the documentary, at 10 p.m., Beth Haynes has produced and will host an hour-long behind-the-scenes look at the new Titanic Museum Attraction called “Titanic: The East Tennessee Experience.”  Viewers will get a sneak peek at the museum, see some of its priceless artifacts, and hear interviews with the owners, workers and Jaynee the First Class Maid and spokeswoman for the Titanic Museum Attraction.

The new $25 million dollar permanent Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. will open on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10 a.m. with a star-studded Grand Opening hosted by Regis Philbin.  The event, which is open to the public, also will be attended by descendants and family members of those on board the Titanic and includes a christening of the ship.

Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge is a half-scale, permanent, three-deck reproduction of the Titanic.  The museum houses 20 galleries to display hundreds of authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.

Inside the Titanic Museum, visitors find full-size reproductions (built to actual Titanic blueprints) of a First Class suite, First Class hallways, Third Class accommodations and – the museum’s centerpiece – a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase.  The First Class suite will be a tribute to Isidor and Ida Straus, owners of Macy’s Department Stores, which  was also the cabin used in James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Titanic as Rose’s suite.

“We pay respect to Titanic by telling the story of the ship and her passengers,” said John Joslyn, owner of the new Titanic  Museum Attraction.  “Visitors learn the individual stories of those onboard the ship as they are learning about the ship itself.  We have spent years researching these people – and their stories are absolutely amazing.

“In addition to an unparalleled collection of artifacts, we have built the Titanic Museum as a completely interactive attraction.  You hear the wonderful stories as you’re going through the museum, but you are also experiencing things the way they were in 1912 when Titanic sailed.  It’s one thing to hear about the men who shoveled coal into the boilers – but it comes to life for you when you pick up that shovel and feel what it means to shovel coal into a furnace.”

In addition to being a world class museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Pigeon Forge is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults.  The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end.

Watch the promotional spot for this special Titanic event at http://www.ackermannwire.com/category/titanic/ and tune in this Saturday evening, March 20, 2010 at 8 p.m. for “An Evening Aboard The Titanic” on WBIR in Knoxville.

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