Knoxville's 225th Anniversary

The city of Knoxville marked its 225th Anniversary on October 3, 2016. Thank you for joining us throughout this year as we have celebrated the past, present and future of Knoxville.

"Knoxville isn't used to the spotlight. But the city itself, now 225 years old, has a rich and surprising history. Although its story reflects its region, in many aspects, Knoxville is America, concentrated in one spot."

Jack Neely, Executive Director Knoxville History Project

Celebrations & Events

Lineage & Legacy - October 16

A special celebration of one of Knoxville’s first families, the event will center on remembering the Mabry & Hazen families' impact both past and present. Guests will enjoy a one-act play as Evelyn Hazen reminisces on the history of her family in the 1882 gunfight on Gay Street (the Knoxville mention in Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi). Guests will enjoy light refreshments, live music, and tours of Mabry Hazen. The event is free and open to the public.

Knoxville Unearthed: Archaeology in the Heart of the Valley - now -January 8

The exhibition at McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture explores the city’s heritage as seen through archaeological discoveries in the “Heart of the Valley.” Using historic artifacts unearthed in and around Knoxville, along with historical images, maps, documents, and oral histories, the exhibition tells the story of Knoxville’s development from a frontier settlement to an industrialized city.