The Sunsphere is perhaps the most iconic landmark in all of Knoxville. The Sunsphere was built as the symbol of the 1982 World’s Fair, which Knoxville hosted. Standing 26 stories tall, the Sunsphere is a one-of-a-kind structure.
The Sunsphere was designed by Knoxville architectural firm Community Tectonics and stands directly across a manmade pond from the Tennessee Amphitheater. The Sunsphere and the Amphitheater are the only remaining structures from Knoxville’s 1982 World’s Fair.
The windows of the Sunsphere are layered in 24-karat gold dust, and the structure in total weighs 600 tons.
During the World’s Fair, visitors were charged two dollars to ride the elevator to the observation deck. A restaurant in the tower served featured food and drinks like the Sunburger and a cocktail called the Sunburst.
The Sunsphere remains an important part of Knoxville culture and has been featured in the logos of the Knoxville Smokies, the 2002 AAU Junior Olympics Mascot, the Hard Knox Roller Girls, and even features in an episode of popular animated series The Simpsons.
Remaining vacant for much of its post-World’s Fair career, various proposals were presented to the city for its redevelopment. In 1991, the Pensacola Tornados were looking at Knoxville for a possible location for the team and thought of the Sunsphere as potential office space. In 2001, the Knoxville Convention Center was reopened with the Sunsphere part of its ground. Between 2007 and 2014, most of the Sunsphere was reopened for the public and has returned to being an important part of Knoxville culture.
The Observation Deck was renovated and reopened in May 2014, and offers a 360-degree view of the World’s Fair Park, downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee, and the Smoke Mountains.
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Revitalist
10608 Flickenger Ln Knoxville TN 37922
United States Of America
(865) 392-6262
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