Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge Adds New Artifact: Surveillance Van
If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be on a police stakeout, now is the time to find out! The Alcatraz East Crime Museum has a new addition: a surveillance van. The van was previously used by the Food and Drug Administration and a Georgia police department. Visit My Smokies has the inside scoop on the new surveillance van and what you can expect when you visit the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge:
About the Van
This new addition to the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge opened to visitors on July 17. While the van was being used in Georgia, it was involved in criminal investigations including drug crime and burglary stakeouts. The fact that the van was used by federal and local law enforcement on criminal cases makes it even more special for visitors to see. In fact, it hasn’t even been stripped of its equipment, so you will be able to get a real inside look at how it all works!
One thing that might surprise visitors is the van’s size. Because of its cramped quarters, agents who used the van did not even have room to fully stand — and they had to spend hours in it! In the Getaway Cars Gallery in Alcatraz East, you will have the chance to see what the camera feed in the van looked like for a detective on a stakeout. You can view the camera in real time as visitors come and go from the museum!
Watch WBIR’s video below to get an inside look at the new artifact in Alcatraz East:
More About the Alcatraz East Crime Museum
The exhibits in the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge dig deep into criminal profiles, the penal system, victim’s stories, crime prevention, forensic science, law enforcement and our justice system. With 25,000 square feet of crime history, you will have plenty to explore when you visit!! Read more about the different galleries below:
A Notorious History of American Crime – This gallery features the evolution of crime and criminals and features the infamous getaway cars exhibit.
Punishment: The Consequence of Crime – Explore the consequences of crime, from a police lineup to a jail cell.
Crime Scene Investigation – Learn how to solve crime through forensic science, including DNA and blood analysis, fingerprinting and ballistics.
Crime Fighting – See the vast network of law enforcement agencies and departments that are dedicated to keeping our neighborhoods and country safe.
Counterfeit Crimes & Pop Culture – Learn more about the illegal traffic and sale of counterfeit goods, as well as crimes related to entertainment figures and sports stars.
The museum is also home to an artifacts center that includes some of America’s most notorious history. The goal is to share the connections between criminal events and how they affected our country through one-of-a-kind objects. You can see O.J. Simpson’s famous white Ford Bronco, as well as Ted Bundy’s 1968 Volkswagen Beetle!
Are you ready find out what it’s like to go on a real police stakeout? Visit the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge and experience all that and more. Learn more about what you can expect at the museum, then check out more exciting things to do in Pigeon Forge while you’re here!
