The Titanic in Pigeon Forge

With images of the Costa Concordia disaster off the coast of Italy still front and center, maybe this is not the best time to talk about shipwrecks as a tourism attraction.

But for history lovers, shipwreck aficionados or travelers just looking for something interesting to do in a destination they are vacationing in anyway, there are three upcoming events that may be of interest.

On April 14, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Mo., and the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will be presenting a show, “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic,” marking the centennial of the ship ill-fated knock into an iceberg while crossing the Atlantic.

Both shows will include appearances by descendants of some of the Titanic’s 2,208 passengers and crew, as well as musical performances and other history-tinged ceremonies.

The performance in Branson kicks off at noon local time while the show gets under way in Pigeon Forge at 8:30 p.m. the same day.

The museum in Branson sustained “next to no damage” during a recent tornado and the performance there will go on as scheduled, a spokesperson says.

Meanwhile, the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum on Nantucket Island, Mass., will be presenting “Guiding Lights: Nantucket’s Lighthouses, Keepers & their Families” May 24 to Oct. 8, 2012.

Before there were satellites, global positioning systems and Google Earth, Nantucket’s lighthouses and the families, which operated them, were essential resources for sailors and ships that approached the island.

The exhibition, which features the museum’s more than 5,000 artifacts and an interactive shipwreck map, celebrates the historical legacy.

Meanwhile, if the emphasis on shipwrecks at these three museums doesn’t exactly put you in the mood for sailing – don’t worry, you can always fly or drive there.

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photo: JoelK75