This Tennessee Museum Houses Over 20,000 Salt and Pepper Shakers From Around the World

The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Andrea Ludden, who’s actually an archaeologist from Belgium, opened this place in Gatlinburg back in 2002 to show off her collection of over 20,000 shaker pairs.

It’s the kind of spot you stumble across on vacation and end up talking about more than the big attractions. If you’ve got an hour to kill in the Smokies and want to see something different, this is your place.

Andrea’s Husband Said Her Collection Had to Go

Like most collecting hobbies, this one started small and got out of hand. Andrea was just looking for a pepper mill in La Jolla, California back in the 1980s. She hit up some garage sales and before long, she was hooked on finding unique shakers.

Her Texas home started filling up with shakers until her husband Rolf basically said, ‘Enough.’ Their solution? Move to Tennessee and open a museum.

Learn How Morton Salt Company Made Salt Shakeable

The museum has a whole section about the Morton Salt Company and how they created better salt that could flow through shakers. Before that invention, people used open dishes called salt cellars instead of shakers. You can see these older pieces right alongside modern designs.

Gold and Silver Shakers Worth Thousands

Some of these little shakers are worth big bucks. The museum has gold and silver sets that cost thousands of dollars each. But what’s really fun is seeing all the different shapes – presidents, animals, buildings, food items, holiday figures, and yep, even toilets.

Shakers Used by European Royalty

Keep an eye out for the complete set of presidential shakers with every U.S. president, some fancy pieces once owned by European royalty, and salt containers so old they were made before shakers were even invented.

40,000 Different Shaker Sets Between Two Museums

One museum wasn’t enough for Andrea. In 2010, she opened a second museum in Spain with another 20,000 sets – and they’re almost all different from what you’ll see in Gatlinburg.

That means between both locations, they’re showing about 40,000 different shaker sets. The Spanish museum gets lots of European visitors and shows how dining customs change from country to country.

Free Jelly Samples Next Door

You can easily fill a whole day around the museum. Within walking distance, check out Smoky Mountain Winery for wine tasting, Smoky Mountain Farms Jelly House for free samples of local preserves, and Smoky Mountain Angler if you want to try fishing.

A short drive takes you to Ripley’s Odditorium with 500 strange exhibits on three floors, or The Village Shops downtown with 27 small boutiques and restaurants in a charming setting.

And of course, the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just minutes away, with hundreds of trails and scenic drives.

The Peddler Steakhouse Is Just Minutes Away

After seeing all those kitchen items, you’ll probably be hungry. Lucky for you, some good restaurants are nearby. Try The Peddler Steakhouse for great steaks, Howard’s (the oldest restaurant in Gatlinburg), Chesapeake’s for seafood, or Crawdaddy’s for Cajun cooking.

If you want drinks, check out Sugarlands Distilling Company for moonshine with fun flavors or Smoky Mountain Winery, which has been making wine in East Tennessee longer than anyone else.

The Gatlinburg Trail

Want to get some fresh air after the museum? There are great trails nearby for all skill levels. The Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is super easy – just half a mile long and fully paved, making it perfect if you have young kids or strollers.

If you brought your dog along, head to the Gatlinburg Trail, one of only two trails in the park where pets are allowed. It’s a 3.8-mile round trip along the Little Pigeon River with some cool old homestead ruins to see.

For something in between, try Laurel Falls Trail – 2.3 miles on a paved path leading to a beautiful 80-foot waterfall.

Your $3 Ticket Counts Toward Any Purchase

The museum is at 461 Brookside Village Way in Gatlinburg’s Winery Square, not far from the main tourist areas.

• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, Sundays 10 AM to 2 PM
• Phone: 865-430-5555 (call to check hours before visiting)
• Admission: $3 per adult (can be applied toward any gift shop purchase)
• Kids under 12: Free

The best part about the admission fee is that it works like a discount coupon. Your $3 ticket price comes off any purchase you make in the gift shop, so if you find a shaker set you like, it’s like getting in free.