STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Tourists have visited Staten Island in recent weeks to see the sight of the infamous "Staten Island Ferry Disaster."

However, most leave disappointed after they find out the tragic giant octopus attack that dragged the Cornelius G. Kolff to the briny depths never really happened.

Joe Reginella, of Silver Lake, the artist who created the phony tragedy, said he came up with the idea over a year ago and that things evolved from there.

"I guess I have an odd sense of humor," Reginella said.

He made a sculpture, a website, a documentary, brochures, and even a fictitious museum about the disaster that, according to legend, happened on Nov. 22, 1963.

The date is significant to the story's believability, because it's the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

"The Staten Island Ferry Disaster Museum hopes to correct this oversight by preserving the memory of those lost in this tragedy and educating the public about the truth behind the only known giant octopus-ferry attack in the tri-state area." the about section of the website says.

Reginella is even selling T-shirts on the site to honor the non-existent victims of the attack.

Reginella said he was surprised by the number of people who believed the story. He sent the Staten Island Advance several photos of people at the sculpture which he has been setting up in Battery Park every Saturday.

What's the "Staten Island Ferry Disaster Memorial Museum" & have you been there?! Octopus attacked a ferry conspiracy?! #itweetmuseums pic.twitter.com/DlCUp216Sl — Blaire Moskowitz (@BlaireMoskowitz) September 24, 2016

Many tourists even make the trip to Staten Island to visit the reputed site of the forgotten tragedy that is directly across from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

Workers have had the unfortunate task of disappointing the visitors about the fact that the octopus attack never happened.

"I explain that it's an urban hoax, like the crocodiles in the sewers," Nick Dowen of the Noble Maritime Collection told the New York Post.

Reginella said some people did not find the fake story to be a laughing matter, but insists his intentions were not malicious.

"I hope everyone has a great time about it," he said. "I hope this convinces people to not believe everything they see online and do some research."