I love finding hidden gems during my trips in the Smoky Mountains, and I'm not talking about gem mining since there are many of those there.
However, outside the main strip in Gatlinburg, TN, in Winery Square, lies a small museum with over 20,000 pairs of Salt and Pepper Shakers from around the world.
The museum is a labor of love by Andrea Ludden, a Belgium archaeologist who collected salt and pepper shakers for over 35 years. Many years ago, Andrea came upon the wide range of salt and pepper shakers while traveling and working in North America.
Andrea realized the rich historical significance behind these everyday household items- the shakers. You can see how civilization changed throughout the years through now with the shakers.
She founded the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in 2022, and it was featured on the Food Network in 2005.
The museum aims to show salt and pepper shakers' variety, creativity, and artistry.
I found out about this museum during the Pink Jeep Tour driving passed it, and our tour guide recommended we stop by.
Open daily from 10 am-4 pm, you can explore the museum checking out the smallest, the largest, the cutest, and strangest shakers worldwide. Each pair of shakers is curated in exhibit categories, for example, animal sets, Christmas sets, food sets, glass sets, etc. All shakers are stored in glass cases for protection.
Even though the museum may be small, you'll see yourself spending a lot of time inside looking at all the shakers, so you don't miss viewing each one. But, honestly, it's hard to view them all in one visit, so you'll need to visit the museum several times.
The museum is both entertaining and educational. And if you want to take a set of shakers home, the museum has a gift shop with over 1,000 for sale.
While browsing the gift shop, my youngest daughter found a guinea pig set, so we had to get it since we have guinea pigs as pets.
Admissions are $3.00 for adults, and kids 12 and younger are free. And if you purchase at the gift shop, you get $3 off the total. Also, the museum has an online store.
This museum may be off the beaten path but worth visiting. No need to be a collector to appreciate this museum.
Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
461 Brookside Village Way
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
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