Knoxville is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Knox County. There's never a lack of things to do in Downtown Knoxville. There more than 15 places that can you visited, Festivals and concerts fill the Market Square, Volunteer Landing and
World's Fair Park year round. Three theaters provide a stage for
world-class entertainment. The historic Old City offers over a dozen
clubs within two blocks. And on any given day you might catch a parade,
street festivals, ice cream social or spontaneous sing-along. All good
fun - all in Downtown Knoxville. Before we informs the tourist attraction in Knoxville, Tennessee, let we informs how the city itself.
Knoxville is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Knox County. Knoxville is the home of the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee, whose sports teams, called the "Volunteers" or "Vols," are extremely popular in the surrounding area. Knoxville is also home to the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as the corporate headquarters of several national and regional companies. As one of the largest cities in the Appalachian region, Knoxville has positioned itself in recent years as a repository of Appalachian culture, and is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 104.2 square miles (269.8 km2), of which 98.5 square miles (255.2 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (14.6 km2), or 5.42%, is water. Elevations range from just over 800 feet (240 m) along the riverfront to just over 1,000 feet (300 m) on various hilltops in West Knoxville, with the downtown area resting at just over 900 feet (270 m). High points include Sharp's Ridge in North Knoxville at 1,391 feet (424 m) and Brown Mountain in South Knoxville at 1,260 feet (380 m). House Mountain, the highest point in Knox County at 2,064 feet (629 m), is located east of the city near Mascot.
1. The Sunsphere
The Sunsphere, in Knoxville, Tennessee, is an 81.07 m (266 ft) high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 23 m (75 ft) gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. The Level 4 observation deck was reopened July 5, 2007 to give visitors a view of Knoxville. The observation deck can hold 86 people. At the time of its reopening, Level 5 became a cafe with concession and an early evening drinks service. Level 6 served as an open space leased out for functions. As of October 2013, both the 7th and 8th floors are available for commercial rental. In June 2013, a patron accidentally broke an inside window. Nobody was hurt. ON November 13, 2013 it was announced that Visit Knoxville would update and renovate the 4th floor of the observation deck. On August 27, 2008 the 5th floor was opened as the SkyBox bar and lounge. It eventually closed, however, and real estate investor Tony Capiello opened Icon Ultra Lounge in its place, investing $450,000.00.
2. The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA)
The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is a contemporary art museum located at 1050 World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. The KMA is committed to developing exhibitions by emerging artists of national and international reputation. The Museum collection consists of work primarily from the 20th and 21st century. Included in the collection are many well-known artists, including Charles Burchfield, Gordon Cheung, Ori Gersht, Red Grooms, Wade Guyton, Robert Longo, Loretta Lux, William Morris, Ulf Puder, Hiraki Sawa, Kenneth Snelson, Robert Stackhouse, and Anne Wilson. The museum is also committed to the preservation and development of arts in East Tennessee. The collection holds examples of work by many of East Tennessee's notable artists, including Lloyd Branson, Catherine Wiley, Joseph Delaney, Walter Hollis Stevens, Richard Jolley, and Bessie Harvey. The museum has a collection of nine Thorne Miniature Rooms. The rooms are notable miniatures, designed by Narcissa Niblack Thorne. The largest collection of Thorne Miniature Rooms is located at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2009, the museum announced plans for the permanent installation of a sculpture in glass to be created by Richard Jolley. The sculpture will cover the museum's Great Hall, an area 100 feet long by 40 feet wide. The installation, titled, “Cycle of Life, Within the Power of Dreams and the Wonder of Infinity,” scheduled to open in May 2014, is expected to be the largest figural glass assemblage in the world, at 185 feet and 7 tons.
3. The Tennessee Theatre
The Tennessee Theatre is a 1920s-era movie palace, located within the Burwell Building in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, at 604 South Gay Street. After the failed "Broadway in Knoxville" series at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium finally had to come to an end due to a lack of profit, quality 'Broadway-Style' entertainment in Knoxville did not end, but was transferred to the Tennessee Theatre for a 2008-2009 season. The series, now presented by the Tennessee Theatre, was renamed 'Broadway at the Tennessee' and kicked off with 'Chicago'. Later productions included Movin' Out, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, and Stomp. Broadway at the Tennessee's 2009-2010 season was scheduled to include Camelot, The Wizard of Oz, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Mamma Mia!, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Avenue Q.
4. Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455. Constructed in 1921, the stadium has undergone 16 expansion projects, at one point reaching a capacity of 104,079 before being slightly reduced by alterations in the following decade. Neyland Stadium is the fourth largest non-racing stadium in the United States, the sixth largest non-racing stadium in the world, and the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference. The stadium is named for legendary UT football coach Robert Neyland (1892–1962).
5. The Knoxville Convention Center
The Knoxville Convention Center is a 500,000-square-foot convention center in Knoxville, Tennessee, occupying the former location of the US Pavilion of the 1982 World's Fair. It offers 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) of exhibit space.
6. Market Square
Market Square is a pedestrian mall located in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1854 as a market place for regional farmers, the square has developed over the decades into a multipurpose venue that accommodates events ranging from concerts to political rallies, and has long provided a popular gathering place for artists, street musicians, war veterans, and activists. Along with the Market House, Market Square was home to Knoxville's City Hall from 1868 to 1924. Market Square was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Market Square is located at the center of Knoxville's downtown business district. It consists of an open area covering just over 1-acre (4,000 m2), with storefronts on the east and west sides. The Square is bounded by Union Avenue on the south and Wall Avenue on the north. Two narrow alleys divide the backs of the Square's stores from the backs of buildings lining Gay Street to the east and Walnut Avenue to the west. Krutch Park lies opposite Union Avenue to the southeast, and the TVA Towers overlook the Square to the north. Market Square is the only place in Knoxville where the street addresses still follow the city's pre-1890 numbering format. Under this format, the street addresses are numbered starting at "1," as opposed to the newer system in use elsewhere in the city, which uses 3, 4, and 5-digit street addresses.
7. The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is a general museum located on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Built in 1963, exhibits focus on natural history, archaeology, anthropology, decorative arts, and local history. The Museum hosts various changing exhibits of art, history and culture. Currently, the Museum features two temporary exhibitions. The first is entitled "Glass of the Ancient Mediterranean" and is on loan from the Yale University Art Gallery. The second is entitled "Brightly Beaded: North American Indian Glass Beadwork" and is a collection of loaned items from private donors and the Museum's own holdings.
8. Thompson–Boling Arena
Thompson–Boling Arena is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The arena opened in 1987. It is home to the Tennessee Volunteers (men) and Lady Vols (women) basketball teams. Since 2008, it has been home to the Lady Vol volleyball team.[6] It is named after B. Ray Thompson and former university president Dr. Edward J. Boling. The basketball court is named "The Summitt" after Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt. It replaced the Stokely Athletic Center. The mammoth octagonal building lies just northwest of the Tennessee River, and just southwest of Neyland Stadium. As an echo of its neighbor and a tribute to the brick-and-mortar pattern atop Ayres Hall, the baselines of the court are painted in the familiar orange-and-white checkerboard pattern.
9. Knoxville Center
Knoxville Center, formerly East Towne Mall; located in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a super-regional shopping mall serving the Knoxville metropolitan area. The mall opened in 1984, and is located at Exit 8 on Interstate 640. The mall's primary target is the fastest growing area in the market. East Towne Mall received a major renovation by its owner Simon Property Group in 1997. The outside was left unchanged aside from a new entrance. The inside was renovated with new tile, paint, trim, and other features. The mall adopted a Tennessee mountain theme. Once renovation was completed, the name Knoxville Center was adopted. With 110 stores to choose from shoppers will find everything from sportswear and apparel to children's clothing to jewelry at stores like FootAction, Bath and Body Works, Signature Diamonds, Belk and the Children's Place. While you are here, enjoy food at Mandarin Palace or a movie at Regal Cinemas. www.knoxvillecenter.com
10. Knoxville Zoo
Knoxville Zoo is a 53-acre (21 ha) zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee near exit 392 of Interstate 40. The zoo is home to about 800 animals and welcomes over 400,000 human visitors each year. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Knoxville Zoo has been successful at breeding several endangered species, especially Red Pandas and White Rhinos. The zoo also bred the first African elephant in captivity in the western hemisphere, in 1978. In 2009, Sarah Glass, Curator of red pandas and Special Exhibits at the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville, Tennessee, was appointed as coordinator for the North American Red Panda Species Survival Plan. The Knoxville Zoo has the largest number of captive red panda births in the Western Hemisphere (101 as of August 2011). Only the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands has had more captive births worldwide.
