About six miles south of downtown Knoxville, Marble Springs is a bucolic idyll, a cluster of very old cabins in a creekside glade, surrounded by woods. It’s unlike most historic homes in that the touring is mostly outside, peering into four historic cabins arranged in a compound. It’s a good place…
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Knoxville has been home to all sorts of couples in its 230-odd years, even back to the days of Blount Mansion, and the team of William and Mary (or Molsey) Blount—whose union is remembered with the fact that Maryville, named for her, is the seat of Blount County, named for him. There have been…
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Several cities tout their favorite local authors, because people like to see the places they’ve read about in novels. Knoxville has its own literary heritage, associated with nationally well-known books and authors, and a brand-new guide to the city’s notable writers, and the places they wrote…
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The University of Tennessee is arguably the largest entity in Knoxville, and one of the oldest. But how well do we know it? About 100,000 people gather there now and then, especially in the fall to watch a football game, but may not see much of the rest of the university. But UT’s campus presents a…
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February may be Black History Month, but Black history is American history, and in Knoxville there’s plenty to go around for the whole year. This post highlights the Black history of this area along with attractions that have temporary and permanent exhibits, murals, statues, parks, and more. Beck…
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What was Christmas like 100 years ago? Many things in Knoxville were different. There was no TV, no Internet, and for most of the decade, no movies with sound. But the holidays were really not so different from the holidays today. In fact, you don’t need a whole lot of imagination to walk around…
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History enthusiasts from around the world come to Knoxville to explore the many historical homes, buildings, sites and artifacts our city has to offer. Those with ties to the region ALSO come here to explore their OWN family history via genealogical research. I’m going to take you through a personal…
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Take a Sunday-afternoon stroll to behold Knoxville's ecclesiastical architecture! Churches are often the most striking buildings in any city, and that’s certainly the case in Knoxville. The stories behind downtown’s historic churches make them interesting to look…
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There are so many things to do and see in Knoxville that any short list is likely to seem pretty random. And it goes without saying that a walk around downtown that includes Gay Street, Market Square, and the Old City is an essential. That’s just what you do when you come to Knoxville. But the…
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On Gay Street there’s a cineplex and a historic movie theater, and just across the street, at the Museum of East Tennessee History, is a comprehensive exhibit about the history of film here. It’s called “Lights! Cameras! East Tennessee!” and it’s pretty fascinating. Movies, still a favorite form of…
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