A federal judge dismissed the suit in 1983, stating the "use of towers in architectural designs is certainly not unique.". When the tower design was chosen, the architects were faced with another challenge: building codes. The Sunspheres iconic gold sphere is perched atop the truss tower. Many argue its relevancy as a tall structure, because it was built in one of the lowest parts of the city. The Sunsphere offers great views of the Knoxville area and the mountains. At the time of its reopening, Level 5 became a cafe with concession and an early evening drinks service. Knoxville News-Sentinel, March 22, 2013. The 2002 AAU Junior Olympics mascot Spherit took its inspiration from the landmark. Sunsphere is ranked #14 out of 18 things to do in Knoxville. This is used as an SPF booster is a styrene/acrylates copolymer. The sphere includes five stories of usable space, surrounded by windows tinted with 24-karat gold. [11], The Level 4 observation deck was reopened July 5, 2007, to give visitors a view of Knoxville. Its unique shape inspired the design of logos and mascots for local sports teams. Between 1993 and 1999, the Sunsphere was featured in part on the logo for the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball club. In 2000, nuclear war protesters scaled the tower, hung a banner stating, Stop the Bombs, and camped out for three days before surrendering to police. Sunsphere observation deck reopens with $5 fee in downtown Knoxville 1982 World's Fair The 1982 World's Fair, officially known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition (KIEE) and simply as Energy Expo '82 and Expo '82, was an international exposition held in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. WORLD'S FAIR BEER:We taste1982 World's Fair Beer so you don't have to, WORLD'S FAIR FACTS:What made the 1982 World's Fair special? The five-level, 74-foot-diameter sphere is supported by six double steel-truss columns that are 198 feet in height and splayed at the bottom to provide greater structural stability. The Sunsphere located in Worlds Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, is a 266-foot (81m) high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 75ft (23m) gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. Andrew Farkas 4.67 6 ratings3 reviews The Sunsphere is a 266-foot-tall green truss structure topped by a gold glass sphere that was built as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair (also known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition). Its the citys most prominent landmark and one of Americas most unique observation towers. A roadside music shop featuring a confounding series of folk art installations. Shearer, John. Love this? Many bridges use trusses as part of their design. Eleventh Street, Clinch Avenue and Worlds Fair Park Drive provide direct vehicular access to numerous parking areas: Please note that the World's Fair Park & Volunteer Landing Event Office does not handle any event inquiries, bookings, or delivery notifications for the businesses at the 5th and 6th levels of the Sunsphere. If you are looking for the event floors please contact Sunsphere Events at (865) 922-8787. There are two 418-step fire stairs and three high-speed elevators contained in the tower. Do not go if you have vertigo as this sphere pretty much made out of glass. Visit Knoxville stepped in to make sure the Sunsphere can still be enjoyed by visitors and locals. Sevierville, Tennessee: Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1997. The deck was closed and plans to reopen it were not certain. The Sunsphere is a 266-foot-tall green truss structure topped by a gold glass sphere that was built as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair (also known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition). In March 1991, officials from the Pensacola Tornados of the Continental Basketball Association were looking at Knoxville for possible location and said of the Sunsphere as potential office space, "What better place for basketball offices than a giant gold basketball in the sky.". Knoxville concert series at World's Fair Park to benefit Sunsphere On November 13, 2013, it was announced that Visit Knoxville would update and renovate the 4th floor of the observation deck. "On sunny days it shimmers; at night it glows. Each floor was going to be named after a geological age, with murals and sound telling the story of the sun, according to Knox News archives. 2023 Visit Knoxville. This structure is the Sunsphere, a 266-foot-tall steel truss structure topped with a 74-foot bronze sphere. Level 6 served as an open space leased out for functions. This page was last modified on 18 July 2023, at 18:45. A 1982 Worlds Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia and gift shop await visitors. The equivalent of a 25-story building, the Sunsphere was built near the center of the 67-acre fair site between January 1981 and the spring of 1982. 239. Smithsonian Channel June 23, 2011. As of October 2013, both the 7th and 8th floors are available for commercial rental. Sunday: 12pm - 4pm No tours can be booked during this time. Level 6 served as an open space leased out for functions. The Sunsphere was highlighted in the seventh season episode of animated TV sitcom The Simpsons titled "Bart on the Road" and was renamed the wig sphere due to its use as a storage facility for wigs. Enhancements planned for Sunsphere observation deck National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Know your airline's carry-on luggage size restrictions before you fly. What's more, it offers a 360-degree view of the original 1982 World's Fair site (now World's Fair Park), downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. At each floor, horizontal beams radiate out from the tower. In June 2013, a patron accidentally broke an inside window; nobody was hurt. City of Knoxville. This includes a gold sphere 75 feet in diameter. The Sunsphere is also featured in the logo for the Hard Knox Roller Girls women's flat-track roller derby league and their mascot, Sphere This also took its inspiration from the Knoxville landmark. Community Tectonics, an architectural firm based in nearby Gatlinburg, received the commission in 1979. It is the backdrop for festivals at World's Fair Park and atimeless icon that has attractedcountless visitors to the Scruffy City. World's Fair Park is best accessed via the Knoxville Trolley's orange line. Mountains in all directions. The city's most visible symbol, the Sunsphere, was built for t Sunsphere Tower (Knoxville) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go NASA - The Sun The sun's magnetic fields rise through the convection zone and erupt . Visitors can ride an elevator up to the observation deck, located on the lowest floor of the sphere (the upper floors are private office and event space). The Sunsphere, in Knoxville, Tennessee, is an 81.07 m high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 23 m gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. It's one of the last remaining relics of the 1982 World's Fair and features information and images about the historic event. Type above and press Enter to search. But despite the negative press the Sunsphere received, the structure has proven to be the most recognizable piece of Knoxville's skyline, with a unique shape that's regularly incorporated in company logos and T-shirt designs. April through October: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. November through March: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. the Sunsphere Observation Deck, 4th Level is open to the public. Please make sure you plan accordingly and with this in mind. All rights reserved. During the fair, the steel structure was painted blue to match the sky; it is currently painted green. The observationDeck schedule is as follows: Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Luxury meets sustainability at these unique ecolodges. Sunsphere | SAH ARCHIPEDIA SAH Archipedia has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. It is also compatible with a broad range of cosmetic ingredients, including emollients and skin conditioners. COOL STUFF:From giant toys to chili, these Knoxville staples exist thanks to the 1982 World's Fair. She was told to pay for her bill by mail, and that's exactly what she did $3.65 for the foodand a $1 tip for her waitress. Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 6, 2007. We can arrange to bring you up late, reschedule your reservation time or help answer any other questions you may have. The Sunsphere towering over Knoxville in May 2016, View from the Observation Deck in May 2016, A view of the Sunsphere in World's Fair Park, downtown Knoxville, The Sunsphere, pointing us to the real thing, William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Center. The tower served as a restaurant and featured food items such as the Sunburger and a rum and fruit juice cocktail called the Sunburst. No purchase necessary. . No one was ever arrested for the incident. Hubert Bebb Also, the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains are just an hour outside Knoxville. In its original design, the sphere portion was to have had a diameter of 86.5 feet (26.4m) to represent symbolically the 865,000-mile (1,392,000km) diameter sun. We are NOT an event space. The current color of the tower is forest green. a Transition Region (a thin and very irregular layer of the Sun's atmosphere that separates the hot corona from the much cooler chromosphere), and the Corona (the Sun's outer atmosphere.). A crown prince, a pricey Pez and Cherry Coke. Sunsphere: Farkas, Andrew: 9781609643249: Amazon.com: Books PLEASE NOTE: There is NO parking directly by the Sunsphere. Mackenzie Roche|Amanda NorcrossJune 30, 2023, Katie Hearsum|Timothy J. ForsterJune 28, 2023. All ticket proceeds go towards The Sunsphere Fund. 52.96% of people who visit Knoxville include Sunsphere in their plan, 36.71% of people start their Sunsphere visit around 11 AM - 12 PM, People usually take around 30 Minutes to see Sunsphere, 93.65% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Sunsphere. SAH Archipedia is a registered trademark of the Society of Architectural Historians. First to Review. We taste1982 World's Fair Beer so you don't have to, What made the 1982 World's Fair special? During construction of the Convention Center, the observation deck, which had been briefly reopened by the city (still sporting the original World's Fair-era displays and explanations of the panorama), was closed while the tower was commandeered by the Knoxville Public Building Authority as offices for, quite literally, overseeing the construction of the Convention Center. From outdoor concerts and movies to Shakespeare on the Squareand other live entertainment, the area is usually bustling. No one had background building a spherical structure of this magnitude. [20], For the hypothetical sphere built around a star, see, "Sunsphere shines as the city's architectural icon", "World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982", "World's Fair Park main attraction reopened to the public Thursday", "Josh Flory: Office space available in the Sunsphere Knoxville News Sentinel", "Carly Harrington: Sunsphere nightclub 'Icon Ultra Lounge' opens with big city feel", "Sunsphere window shatters in bar accident | News | Downtown - UT News", "Visit Knoxville getting ball rolling on Sunsphere renovations", https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-sunsphere-knoxville-tennessee, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunsphere&oldid=1159160064, This page was last edited on 8 June 2023, at 16:53. [4], In its original design, the sphere portion was to have had a diameter of 86.5 feet (26.4m) to represent symbolically the 865,000-mile (1,392,000km) diameter sun. With a choice between Disney World and Knoxville, it's an easy decision. Sunsphere Hours Your admission price goes towards The Sunsphere Fund. (From Aerial America) Read more. But the formerly free experience will. Miller, Theresa. Knowles, Susan W. Hubert Bebb. In If you need further help please call us directly: (865) 314-0660. The structure was almost scrapped altogether. [7] It featured red hair and a body shaped like the Sunsphere. We personally suggest the Knoxville Museum of Arts Public Parking lot or Locust Street Garage. hOLIDAY hOURS: 9:00AM-3:00PM On the following Holidays: - MLK Day - Good Friday - Memorial Day - July 4 th Each plane of glass cost $1,000 on the average at the time of construction. Knoxville Council Greenlights Sunsphere Elevator Upgrades Recent travelers said it's a lively and fun place to walk around, with plenty of places to eat or just hang out. There are also two water play fountains, a magnet for kids in warm weather. The museum is free to visit and showcases the work of local artists. The Sunsphere, located in World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, is a 266 ft (81 m) high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 75 ft (23 m) gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. It weighs 600 short tons (540t) and features six double steel truss columns in supporting the seven-story sphere. The spheres reflective and insulated glass windowpanes are tinted with 24-karat gold dust and cut into seven different shapes. The Sunsphere is a 266-foot-tall High-Tech observation tower that served as the centerpiece of the 1982 Worlds Fair held in downtown Knoxville. For the hypothetical sphere built around a star, see. the 266-foot-tall Sunsphere offers a great view of the city from its observation deck on . Please plan your reservation time BEFORE going to enjoy the splash pads. Taste of Greece: Culinary Traditions & Ancient Ruins, The Kingdoms of Andalusia: Secret Gardens and Haunted Palaces, Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages, Antiques and Their Afterlives at the Armour-Stiner Octagon House, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Spring-Heeled Jack, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, School of Rocks: Minerals, Fossils, Meteorites With Yinan Wang, The Truth About Sharks With Melissa Cristina Mrquez, Color in Motion: Suminagashi & Ebru Marbling with Linh My Truong, Get Real: Defining Reality With Ashley Christine, The World's Rarest Raptor Hangs On Thanks to an Invasive Species, Southern California's Anime-Inspired Food Scene, http://www.worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-sunsphere.html, http://www.visitknoxville.com/things-to-do/tours/sunsphere/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_on_the_Road. Im wet from the splash pad nearby, can I still come up? An eerie collection of the surviving structures from a past celebration of the future. WDTCF - The Sunsphere - The Simpsons Tapped Out Addicts R.R. A lesson to be learned from the Sunsphere is that basic structural concepts like trusses and cantilevers can be applied to unique and challenging projects. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning. Accessed June 14, 2015. http://www.tntrivia.com/misc/sunspherehistory.pdf. The tower tops the list of free things to do in Knoxville. Tours are taken up every half hour, on the half hour. Sunsphere Tower (Knoxville) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Its unique. A 1982 Worlds Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia, and gift shop await visitors. American Architects Directory. Admission is $5 per person and free for children under 12. Any building taller than seven stories had to be built of concrete for fire safety, according to Knox News archives. Private Tours are offered ahead of time. . Even the 12-year-old great-great-grandson of Gustave Eiffel, the designerof the Eiffel Tower in Paris, visited the Sunsphere in 1982. This stone memorial pays tribute to a massive shipwreck which was sadly overshadowed by the death of John Wilkes Booth. Director: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or at least a replica. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only structures that remain from the 1982 World's Fair. Emily Haynie Cantilever structures are common in architecture, where they can be used for balconies. . Many argue its relevancy as a tall structure, because it was built in one of the lowest parts of the city. Show tickets will be sold individually and start at $10. All rights reserved. While not physically incorporated into the final design, the Convention Center was designed with an open curve along its north edge to allow access to the Sunsphere. Designed by the Knoxville architectural firm Community Tectonics, the Sunsphere was created as the theme structure for the 1982 World's Fair. "It was in the worst place on the site," Shell said about the Sunsphere's location. [3], During the fair it cost US$2 (equivalent to $6.06 in 2022) to take the elevator to the tower's observation deck. Costs were reduced, but challenges awaited around every corner. It was noted for its unique design in several engineering publications. Union Station: The Heart of Travel in Denver, A New Life for Chattanoogas Oldest Bridge, Chicagos Willis Tower: Fun Facts and Skydeck Review, Hernando de Soto Bridge: One Year After the Crack, Lighthouses of Maine: Photos Captured by a Civil Engineer. Located on the 6th or 8th floor of Knoxville's iconic Sunsphere Tower, our event space offers stunning 360 degree views of the city and options to accommodate small to grand gatherings. Please plan your parking before coming for your reservation. The proposal from Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. This is the kind of stuff we can tell now. This may be the last one in the United States. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. [19], The Sunsphere was the subject of a song of the same name by rapper EG Money in 2022. In a 1996 episode of The Simpsons, Bart and three sidekicks roadtripped to Knoxville, drawn by the allure of the Worlds Fair. The Sunsphere located in World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, is a 266-foot high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 75 ft gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. Follow me on Instagram (@bridgetoanywhereblog) and find me on LinkedIn! During the 1982 Worlds Fair, fairgoers paid $2 to take one of three high-speed glass elevators to the Sunspheres two observation decks, VIP lounge, and full-service restaurant, which featured food items such as the Sunburger and a rum and fruit juice cocktail called the Sunburst. A Hardees fast-food restaurant was temporarily located in the base. The 4 th Floor Observation Deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains including World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River and the University of Tennessee Campus. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. But it could have been something else entirely. On August 27, 2008, the 5th floor was opened as the SkyBox bar and lounge. The observation deck features 360-degree views of the city, including downtown and the University of Tennessee campus. The Knoxville Sunsphere. Princeton University, 2000. Check out where to stay in Knoxville and book an accommodation of your choice. Rising 26 stories above the skyline, the Sunsphere is an iconic remnant of Knoxvilles 1982 Worlds Fair. There was a brief try at a reopening in 1999, but it didnt last. Visited August 2022. The Sunsphere is a steel structure with a total height of 266 feet. He and Bill Denton, company president at the time, weremeeting with local McDonald's operator Litton Cochran in 1979 when the restaurateur and fair board member informed them the energy-themed exhibition did not have a theme structure like past fairs. Visit Knoxville reveals what's new inside the Sunsphere and what Sunsphere Address: 810 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States, Best time to visit Sunsphere(preferred time): 10:00 am - 08:00 pm, Time required to visit Sunsphere: 00:30 Mins. So was the idea for a revolving floorespecially when the "stalk," originally blue to match the sky, had to be nearly 100 feet taller than initially conceived for visibility, according to Community Tectonics. The Sunsphere has been used as a symbol for Knoxville, appearing in postcards and logos. The proposal from Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. Come with U.S. News on a tour of The Langham, Boston. ONLY service animals are allowed in the Sunsphere. "Cost estimates greatly exceeded income," Denton said in 1982. That's where the Sunsphere was first presented. Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. These incredible trips are sure to inspire romance and relaxation. A March 1996 episode of The Simpsons, "Bart on the Road", features the Sunsphere. As the fairs theme structure, the Sunsphere was featured on postcards, logos, and souvenirs. Pets are not permitted even if tickets have already been purchased. What are the hours it's open - Sunsphere Tower - Tripadvisor The inspiration for the tower's architectural design came from the theme of the 1982 World's Fair: Energy Turns the World. 810 Clinch Ave. (Knoxville International Energy Exposition, 1981), (Knoxville International Energy Exposition, 1982), Buildings of the United States Book Series, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/TN-01-093-0078, http://www.worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-sunsphere.html, http://www.tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1557, http://www.tntrivia.com/misc/sunspherehistory.pdf. Manufactured in New Jersey, each of the 360 energy-efficient panes cost an average of $1,000 at the time of construction. The floors of the building rest upon these beams. Muchof the design team's research came from staring at the sky. Contact World's Fair Park Knoxville | 865-215-8160 In 1982, Knoxville hosted the Worlds Fair. In 2011, a drawing of the Sunsphere alongside images of iconic structures from Tennessee's three other large cities (the Memphis Pyramid, Nashville's AT&T Building, and the Tennessee Aquarium of Chattanooga) was incorporated into the standard design of Tennessee's state-issued driver's licenses. They remained on the tower for three days before surrendering to police. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2023. Arrive at the base of the Sunsphere at the start of your reservation time. OBSERVATION DECK HOURS Monday through Friday - 10:00AM-1:30PM & 2:30PM-5:00PM Saturday - 9:00AM-1:30PM & 2:30PM-5:00PM Sunday - 12:00PM-4:00PM General Inquiries: (865) 314-0660 To purchase tickets or for more information please click here. It weighs 600 tons and features six double steel truss columns in supporting the seven-story sphere. The Convention Center was completed in 2001. The Sunsphere remains the centerpiece of the Worlds Fair Park, which includes two other cultural facilities: the Tennessee Amphitheater, the only other structure remaining from the 1982 Worlds Fair, and the more recent Knoxville Museum of Art. Featuring a gold-colored glass sphere supported by a hexagonal steel truss tower, the iconic structure currently houses a public observation deck, lounge, and private event spaces. The Sunsphere is a steel structure with a total height of 266 feet. Hours of observation are subject to change. A 1982 World's Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia and gift shop await you! Location & Hours Suggest an edit 810 Clinch Ave Fl 4 Beyond the corona is the solar wind, which is actually an outward flow of coronal gas. *Please Note*: We have limited space and need to account for everyone in the tour group.

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