'Doc' to patrol social distancing at Alcatraz East Crime Museum

In this time of COVID-19, many tourist attractions are going extra lengths to keep the public safe. At the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., there’s a new lawman in town.

“Doc,” an abbreviation for Department of Corrections, will be watching you as you enjoy the museum, barking at those who don’t follow safety protocol.

The museum did a recent survey asking fans about their planned visit when they reopen on May 15 and what they hope to see. When asked: “What could the museum do to make you feel comfortable” the most common answers were “Additional cleaning and spatial distancing.”

Museum changes will include reduced hours and capacity, heightening cleaning efforts, spatial distancing protocols, employee health screening and employee PPE. Guests are encouraged to review all safety rules prior to their visit on the museum web page devoted to COVID-19. You can read it here. 

While visiting the museum this summer, guests can enjoy these temporary exhibits: 

Alcatraz Art Escape – Extended through July 5, 2020, the Alcatraz Art Escape features artwork by incarcerated artists that tell the story of Alcatraz Penitentiary. This temporary exhibit is made possible through a collaboration with the organization Prison Arts Touching Hearts. 

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – Opens in July 2020. In partnership with TBI, this exhibit showcases the important work done on a daily basis, sharing information about some of the most famous cases the bureau has investigated.

Alcatraz East Crime Museum has a panel of experts who make up the Advisory Board, including those in law enforcement, collectors, a medical examiner, crime scene investigators, and others. The board includes Jim Willett, a retired prison warden; Anthony Rivera, a combat veteran and Navy SEAL chief; and Judge Belvin Perry Jr., who is best known for the Casey Anthony trial. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.alcatrazeast.com. Check out our traveling safe page with more safety tips and information: www.crimemuseum.org/help-the-missing/missing-persons/.

The eyes have it in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky

            Ventriloquist dummies are like those paintings where the eyes follow you around the room. You’ll feel like someone's watching you at the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

            The Vent Haven Museum is the only museum of its kind in the world — dedicated to the art and history of ventriloquism and offering 800-plus ventriloquists’ dummies on display, from Edgar Bergen’s Charlie McCarthy to Shari Lewis’ Lamb Chop. There’s even Miss Piggy!

The museum started as a private collection by William Shakespeare “W.S.” Berger who served as president of the International Brotherhood of Ventriloquists for about 20 years. Berger donated his extensive collection, including Tommy Baloney dating back to 1910,  to create the museum.

Tommy Baloney

Opened on June 30, 1973, the non-profit museum now showcases dummies and thousands of video clips and photos of ventriloquists and their creations, some of which date back centuries. The museum also hosts an annual international ConVENTion where hundreds of ventriloquists attend each year. In 2014 Bill Geist spotlighted the ConVENTion in an episode of CBS’ Sunday Morning. This year’s event will be July 13-16, 2016, at the Cincinnati Airport Marriott Hotel in Hebron, Kentucky.

The museum is only open May through September and all tours are guided and by appointment; contact them for more information or to schedule a time. Admission is $10 per person, $5 for seniors, children 12 and under and groups of 10 or more.

Photos courtesy of Vent Haven Museum

Cheré Dastugue Coen is a food and travel writer living in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is the author of several Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire and “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.