by Linda Burlingame

Upcycled Christmas tree on display at Titanic Museum Attraction!

The Christmas tree you’ll see outside Titanic Museum Attraction when you’re in Branson is part of the ongoing, year-round effort by Branson Christmas Coalition to make Branson “America’s Christmas Tree City.” This year, Branson is home to more than 1,500 unique Christmas trees. The welded-metal cone structure of this “upcycled” Christmas tree was salvaged from The Grand Palace; the City of Branson donated shooting star pole displays that were no longer in use. These and other donations of materials, time, monies, and “a large dose of Ozark Mountain Christmas ingenuity” created the brilliant result. Branson is fully decked out for the holidays!

Inside the Titanic Museum Attraction you’ll see what Titanic would have looked like, had she ever made a Christmas voyage. The ship is decorated in lavish Edwardian style. It takes the crew two weeks to decorate, a full day just for the Grand Staircase! The staircase is a full-sized replica of the one on the ship.

 

Full-sized replica of Titanic’s Grand Staircase!

 

There are more than 20 unique galleries displaying more than 400 artifacts; amazing photos; special exhibitions and interactive galleries; recreations of lifeboats and cabins. You’ll marvel when you see the recreation of the First-Class cabin occupied by John Jacob Astor IV and his wife Mary. It’s luxurious with elegant carpeting, a chaise, and a writing desk. While not spacious, it’s in stark contrast to the Third-Class cabin! One of the newer galleries is the beautiful Musicians Gallery, a tribute to the eight musicians aboard.

Musicians Gallery at Titanic Museum Attraction.

 

In 2020, the rarest of all Titanic artifacts, Wallace Hartley’s famed violin, will be on exhibit at Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, February 8 through June 15, 2020. One of the newer galleries, the Musicians Gallery is a tribute to the eight musicians aboard. The band was actually two groups, a trio and a quintet. The eight musicians had never all played together on Titanic until the night the ship was sinking. In 2013 the Hartley violin sold at auction for $13.7m, the highest price ever paid for a Titanic artifact.

Back to Christmas … you have a list, right? The Gift Shop at Titanic Museum Attraction is fabulous. (No other word for it.) “Something for everyone!” I wonder what the gift shop on Titanic was like. There was one, you know. And did you know Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson is available for your special events? Take it from me, Titanic Branson does things right!

Titanic Museum Attraction is available for special events!

There’s Christmas fun all around Branson — attractions and shows, dining and shopping. Historic Downtown Branson is packed with fun places to shop and eat. Dick’s 5 & 10, opened in 1961, is a Branson icon, one of the last of America’s authentic 5 & 10’s. More than 250,000 different items, from old-time toys, games, books, paper dolls, kitchen items, and candy to home décor (Looking for lake-themed accessories? Wine? John Deere? Military? Flamingos?!) there’s something for “kids of all ages.” Another little gem in Historic Downtown Branson is the Branson Centennial Museum. The museum opened in 2012 as a celebration of Branson’s Centennial and features rotating exhibits and the remarkably interesting history of Branson, from early days on the White River through early tourism and later, Branson’s entertainment industry. There’s a small gift shop with a good selection of local books as well.

Branson offers extraordinary things to do year ‘round, and it’s especially fun during the holidays. Treat yourself to some Christmas time in Branson!

For more information:

www.BransonChristmas.org

www.TitanicBranson.com

www.Dicks5and10.com

READ MORE: Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas