1816- Lamar House Hotel

The Lamar House Hotel, which also now houses the Bijou Theater, was built in 1816.

Location: 803 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville

From the publication "The Future of Knoxville’s Past- Historic and Architectural Resources in Knoxville, Tennessee- Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission, October 2006," prepared by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission:

“Lamar House/Bijou Theater, 803 S. Gay (c. 1818, 1837, 1900-1909). The building that houses the Bijou Theater was built as a private residence prior to 1818, and became a hotel known as the Lamar House in that year. The building was extensively altered in 1837, when Gay Street was re-graded, making it possible to incorporate entrances at what had been the basement level. The 1900-1909 renovations resulted in the Bijou Theater” (p. 22).