Knoxville Attractions – Several of Knoxville’s attractions have a quilt square, if you’ve been to these locations before you might be surprised! Zoo Knoxville is a great place to take the family year-round. This incredible facility is known for its red pandas, and is also home to the ARC, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus. Also in east Knoxville is the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, a sprawl of dogwood tree varieties and secret gardens. A swing into south Knoxville will take you to the crown jewel of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness – Ijams Nature Center, where you can hike, paddle, climb, bike, and more. Head back downtown and you’ll want to see James White’s Fort, where the city of Knoxville was founded in the late 18th century. Wrap up your excursion with a trip to Mast General Store on Gay Street, a store that will take you back in time with old-fashioned candy and other goods.
Birds of Paradise at Zoo Knoxville
36.003629° N,-83.880434° E
3500 Zoo Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
Tulips at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
35.9850827° N,-83.8797767° E
2743 Wimpole Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
Garden Walk at IJAMS Nature Center
35.955267° N,-83.868933° E
2915 Island Home Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee Waltz at Mast General Store
35.966263° N,-83.918713° E
402 S. Gay Street Knoxville, Tennessee
Bird's Nest at James White's Fort
35.962984° N,-83.912125° E
205 East Hill Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee
Whirling Star at Campbell Quilt Barn
Other sites in Knox County – Far north in Halls you’ll find the Whirling Star at Campbell Quilt Barn, and in Farragut you’ll find Morning Star at River View Farm.
Whirling Star at Campbell Quilt Barn
36.122439° N,-83.945563° E
8526 Hill Rd Halls, Tennessee
Morning Star at River View Farm
35.827183° N,-84.147237° E
12130 Prater Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
Clockwise from top left, quilts at Museum of East Tennessee History Center, James Whites Fort (courtesy Robert McGinnis), Ramsey House, and Mabry Hazen House.
Museum of Appalachia’s Quilts
Smoky Mountain Quilters Show
TO DO
For those who want a well-rounded experience with a chance to see some historic quilts, no need to go far. Museum of East Tennessee History is the perfect place to visit in the heart of downtown. In their “Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee” exhibit, quilt patterns, traditional to the region, serve as a visual cue to the exhibition’s sections. For example, a simple green-and-yellow pattern in the opening gallery, “The Land Beckons,” gives way to a more complex red-and-blue pattern in the next area, “A Land Divided.” Notice this subtle, quilt pattern detail on your next tour of the Museum of East Tennessee History!
At time of this writing, they have two on display (with others in archive). These include a circa 1861-70 Lindsey quilt (a reference to the fabric as there is no pattern), and a white wholecloth quilt circa 1853. For a peek in the archive, check out this YouTube video of a Knoxville Crazy Quilt.
Some of Knoxville’s Historic House Museums also have quilts on display:
- You may have noticed in the previous section that James White’s Fort has one of the Appalachian Quilt Trail squares on one of its outbuildings. Additionally, they have several quilts from the late 1800s to early 1900s in a variety of patterns. Ask their curator, Robert McGinnis, what they have on display when you visit the Fort.
- Mabry Hazen House has a “crazy quilt” in the Hazen bedroom. Wondering how crazy quilts became popular? Many historians point to the 1876 Philadelphia Expo for its origins. The Japanese pavilion captured Americans’ attention with “crazed” ceramics from the kintsugi tradition (the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with the dust of precious metals) were featured. Through this cultural amalgam, the crazy quilt was born. Read more about this fad and how the Hazen women created a shining example here.
- The Historic Ramsey House has some quilts in their collection, ask their staff about what is on display.
Another option just outside Knox County is the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton. This Smithsonian Affiliate portrays an authentic mountain farm and pioneer village with log structures and exhibit buildings filling with thousands of Appalachian artifacts including a great quilt assortment. Of particular interest in their collection is “Granny Irwin’s Christmas Quilt” and “Marcellus Rice’s Friendship Quilt”. These and several more are described in MoA’s founder John Rice Irwin’s book A People and Their Quilts.
If you’re really into beautiful quilts, you won’t want to miss the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee Quilt Show! The 41st annual show will be held August 5-6, 2022 at the Knoxville Expo Center. They host vendor sales, quilt turning sessions, demonstrations, a boutique gift shop, prizes, and more.
Blackberry Farm Brewery, Heritage Series
TO…TASTE?
We won’t blame you if your curiosity caused you to scroll to this section – after all, how in the world could we connect quilting with something to taste? Knoxville’s Ale Trail offers several breweries making top-notch brew. There are also taprooms and markets that carry local brews along with regional and national options. Just outside Knox County is Blackberry Farm Brewery, and their Heritage Series has a different quilt pattern on each of the six can designs. They take their name and quilt color inspiration from a location on one of the Blackberry Properties, and the brand was designed by the Helms workshop out of Austin. You can try their beers at many places in Knoxville, but if you make it out to their brewery you can also enjoy the quilts hanging in their taproom that were made lovingly by one of the brewer’s mothers.
Hope this helps you find some new quilts in Knoxville! Take home a quilt puzzle from Mast General Store to remember your visit!
