This unique Gatlinburg museum is a tribute to the life and explorations of famed artist, reporter, explorer and collector Robert Ripley. Over the course of some 35 years, beginning in 1918, Ripley traveled the world and visited more than 200 countries, along the way documenting through cartoon illustrations many of the bizarre and unusual facts, legends and artifacts he encountered on his adventures. Today, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Gatlinburg continues that tradition by displaying oddities from around the world through its various displays. Whether through photos, videos, hands-on exhibits or artifact displays (both authentic and replicated), guests are in for a shockingly entertaining good time.

The experience starts before you step inside thanks to exterior architecture that makes the building look as if it has been fractured by an earthquake. Once inside, guests will see exhibits like the stuffed remains of a two-headed calf born in Gatlinburg, a real shrunken head and a life-size representation of the world’s tallest man. The tour is self-guided and generally follows a one-way path through the museum. With more than 500 exhibits on display, you should probably count on spending 45 minutes to an hour exploring everything that the Believe It or Not! Museum has to offer.

Other Sevier County Attractions