Attractions & Museums

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Knoxville has many attractions and museums throughout the City. Listed below are a few to enjoy.


Alex Haley Statue
KnoxvilleTN.gov
Morningside Park
1600 Dandridge Avenue
Magnificent statue honoring Alex Haley, author of “Roots,” who made Knoxville his home. Designed for interaction, the statue is located next to a playground and is surrounded by a scenic city park.

Beck Cultural Exchange Center
BeckCenter.net
1927 Dandridge Avenue 
865-524-8461
One of the oldest museums and historical reservoirs of African-American heritage and achievement in the Southeastern United States, this museum depicts the history of African-Americans through its extensive collection of photographs, newspapers, audio and video recordings, biographies, books, and artwork. 

Blount Mansion
BlountMansion.org
200 W. Hill Ave., Downtown
865-525-2375
Blount Mansion, built in 1792, was the home and territorial Capitol of Governor William Blount, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and later a US Senator. Blount helped draft the first Tennessee State Constitution here making it "The Birthplace of Tennessee." The Mansion is Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark and has historical exhibits and an art gallery.

Candy Factory & Victorian Houses
1060 World’s Fair Park Drive
865-522-2049
This 19th century building used to be a Candy Factory, but now is home to Bradley's Chocolate Factory candy and gift shop. Fort Kid (kids playground) is right across the street
near.

Confederate Memorial Hall (Bleak House)
BleakHouseUDC89.org
3148 Kingston Pike
865-522-2371
This 15-room, brick 1858 mansion, originally named Bleak House, has a rich and interesting past. Completed in 1858 for Robert & Louise Franklin Armstrong, it served as headquarters of General James Longstreet, C.S.A., during the “siege of Knoxville” in 1863. It features beautifully terraced gardens, period furnishings, museum and library.

Cradle of Country Music Tour
VisitKnoxville.com
301 S. Gay Street
865-523-7263
A downtown walking tour highlighting the early development of country music in Knoxville.


Crescent Bend
The Armstrong-Lockett House
W.P. Toms Memorial Gardens
CrescentBend.com
2728 Kingston Pike
865-637-3163
Built in 1834. Contains exquisite collection of 18th century English and American furniture and art. Three-acre formal Italian-terraced garden overlooking the Tennessee River. Crescent Bend was constructed as a residence for Drury P. Armstrong -- a merchant, farmer, and county official -- in 1834. It is also called the "Armstrong-Lockett House" for the first and last families to use it as a residence.

East Tennessee Historical Society
EastTNHistory.org
601 S. Gay Street
865-215-8824
For nearly 170 years, the East Tennessee Historical Society has been helping East Tennesseeans hold on to their unique heritage, recording the events, collecting the artifacts, and saving the stories that comprise the history we all share.


East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association
ETVMA.org
World's Fair Park Drive
865-633-8337
This is a public plaza with a formal arrangement of granite pillars bearing the names of over 6,200 fallen heroes from 35 East Tennessee counties who died in military service during named conflicts since World War I.


Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture
Ewing-Gallery.utk.edu
1715 Volunteer Blvd.
865-974-3200
The Ewing Gallery features works of contemporary artists and architects. Exhibitions change monthly.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
NPS.gov/grsm
Approx. 40 miles southeast of Knoxville
865-436-1200
520,000 acres encompass more than 850 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding; 735 miles of streams for fishing; many developed and backcountry campsites; spectacular scenery and views from peaks over 6,000 feet; several visitors centers with interpretive exhibits and artifacts. The most visited National Park in the U.S.


Historic Westwood
HistoricWestwood.org
3425 Kingston Pike, Sequoyah Hills
865-523-8008
Westwood is the historic home, studio, and gallery of artist Adelia Armstrong Lutz. A visit to Westwood is a connection to the rich, artistic history of Knoxville. Whether interested in art, history, architecture or beautiful gardens, Westwood will capture the imagination. 

Ijams Nature Center
Ijams.org
2915 Island Home Avenue
865-577-4717
A 150-acre park with mulched and paved trails, a waterfront boardwalk and wildlife viewing areas. Seasonal events include music concerts, owl prowls, canoe trips, plant sales and guided nature walks.

James White's Fort
JamesWhitesFort.org
205 E. Hill Ave., Downtown
865-525-6514
The fort was the home of Gen. James White who settled here with a land grant from North Carolina. The home is furnished with tools and artifacts of the period, giving visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of early settlers.

Knoxville Botanical Gardens
KnoxGarden.org
2743 Wimpole Avenue
865-540-8690
The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is located on 47 acres of former Howell Nurseries, featuring walking trails, display gardens, unique & historic horticulture and over two miles of distinctive stone walls and timeless buildings, just five minutes from downtown. A privately owned and operated Garden, it is supported through donations which allows these beautiful Gardens to the public for free!


Knoxville Museum of Art
KnoxArt.org
1050 World's Fair Park
865-525-6101
The Knoxville Museum of Art showcases exhibitions from around the world and a permanent collection of contemporary art. The museum contains four galleries, gardens and a museum shop. Accredited by the American Association of Museums.


Mabry-Hazen House
MabryHazen.com
1711 Dandridge Ave.
865-522-8661 
Antebellum home built in 1858. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Occupied by Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War while the Mabry family lived upstairs. A museum of family life during and after the war. Located on Bethel Ave. down the road from the Mabry-Hazen house is the Bethel Cemetery which contains ore than 1,600 Confederate dead, including several hundred soldiers who were killed in the Battle of Fort Sanders. Click here for more information about Bethel Cemetery.

Marble Springs State Historic Farmstead
Facebook.com/Marble.Springs
1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway
865-573-5508
Marble Springs State Historic Site is the last remaining home of John Sevier - Tennessee's first Governor. The home was built ca. 1792 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is a working farmstead including log structures and farm animals. Living history interpreters provide guided tours.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
McClungMuseum.utk.edu
1327 Circle Park Drive
865-974-2144
A general museum with collections in anthropology, archaeology, decorative arts, medicine, local history and natural history. The exhibits document ways of life, cultural trends, and technologies from prehistoric times to the present day, and showcase much of Tennessee's past -- its geology, history, art, and culture.


Muse Knoxville
TheMuseKnoxville.com
516 N. Beaman St.
865-594-1494
Children's science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) museum with a full-dome planetarium. Playful programs, hands-on exhibits, and exciting planetarium shows bring learning to life.

Old Gray Cemetery
OldGrayCemetery.org
543 N. Broadway
865-522-1424
This 13 acres of beauty and history, is over 150 years old. Although the land was purchased in 1850 the cemetery was not dedicated until 1852 when the first 40 lots were sold at public auction. Today Old Gray clearly depicts Knoxville's history as well as the Victorian era and provides an important example of cemetery planning and design during the rural-cemetery or garden movement.


Ramsey House Plantation
RamseyHouse.org
2614 Thorngrove Pike
six miles southeast of downtown
865-546-0745 
The Ramsey House was built in 1797 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This house is noted as the first stone house in the region and it has notable 18th century architectural features such as gardens and period furnishings. It is the boyhood home of Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey. 


Star of Knoxville Riverboat
TNRiverboat.com
300 Neyland Drive
865-525-7827 or 800-509-2628
Enjoy the scenic Tennessee River aboard an authentic sternwheel riverboat which offers lunch, sightseeing, dinner and party cruises. The two-hour dinner cruise features live entertainment and different themes each night.


Sunsphere
WorldsFairPark.org/Sunsphere
810 Clinch Avenue or World's Fair Park Drive
A golden glass ball in downtown Knoxville, that was built as the signature structure for the 1982 World’s Fair. It is 266 feet tall and has 26 stories. The actual ball itself houses only five levels.


Tennessee Woman's Suffrage Memorial
TNWomansMemorial.org
Market Square
The Suffrage Coalition was founded to create a lasting memorial to the suffragists of Tennessee. The Suffrage Coalition has erected a life-size, bronze statue featuring three Tennessee suffragists: Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville, Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville, and Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis.


Three Rivers Rambler
ThreeRiversRambler.com
2560 University Commons Way
865-524-9411
This vintage steam engine train takes guests on a 90-minute excursion to the Forks of the River and back, through some of Knoxville’s most historic and beautiful countryside.


University of Tennessee Football Hall of Fame
UTSports.com
Neyland Thompson Sports Center
1704 Johnny Majors Drive on UT campus
865-974-8437
It’s always Football Time in Tennessee at the UT Football Hall of Fame. The museum stands as a tribute to the student athletes who shaped 100 years of Volunteer Football.


Volunteer Landing
WorldsFairPark.org/Volunteer-Landing
Neyland Drive
Volunteer Landing runs parallel with Tennessee River to create a beautiful riverfront Park. Visitors to the Park can enjoy fishing, biking, and other water sports and activities while here. The River is a site to see during UT home football games. The Vol Navy lines the River along Volunteer Landing to create a sea of orange full of fun and excitement to cheer on the home team.

Volunteer Princess Cruises
VolunteerPrincess.com
Volunteer Landing Marina
Downtown Knoxville, TN
865-541-4556
Cruise the scenic Tennessee River aboard the finest luxury yacht in the heart of Downtown Knoxville. Located at Volunteer Landing Marina.

WDVX 89.9 Radio Station and Blue Plate Special
WDVX.com
301 South Gay St. in Visitor Knoxville
865-544-1029
The WDVX Blue Plate Special is a live performance Monday through Saturday at noon at the Knoxville Visitors Center on the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive in Downtown Knoxville. The Blue Plate Special is broadcast and webcast around the world.


Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
WBHOF.com
700 Hall of Fame Drive
865-633-9000
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame honors the past, celebrates the present and promotes the future of the women’s game.


World's Fair Park
WorldsFairPark.org
1060 World's Fair Park Drive
865-215-1158
Once the site of the 1982 World's Fair, this magnificent 52-acre park includes a large variety of attractions, shops, galleries, restaurants, and the Knoxville Convention Center.


Zoo Knoxville
ZooKnoxville.org
3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive
865-637-5331
Discover a world of wonder at Zoo Knoxville. Through education, conservation, exhibition, research and recreation, the zoo tells the stories of the animals, the plants and the people who make up the communities of the earth.