Enjoy my digital rendition of the Sunsphere, an iconic structure located downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. Constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair, you can compliment your home decor with a print from my galleries at Fine Art America and/or ArtPal. Several print types to choose from!
Welcome to the future, circa 1982. This architectural mirrored-structure known as the Sunsphere, and modern light posts in the foreground, were installed for the 1982 World’s Fair, in Knoxville, Tennessee – roughly one year after NASA’s Space Shuttle program began. See more.
Here’s another photograph (facing the opposite direction) from the Tennessee Amphitheater in downtown Knoxville. And, like the first version, it’s also available on a variety of items in my gallery at Fine Art America.
The Tennessee Amphitheater was constructed during the 1982 World’s Fair, next to the Sunsphere, located in downtown Knoxville. See my gallery for more.
Yesterday was my first visit to the observation deck at the Sunsphere, located at 810 Clinch Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee. Built in 1982 for the World’s Fair, the structure stands 266 feet tall, weighs 600 tons and has windows that are layered in 24-karat gold dust. It’s interior circular viewing platform can accommodate a maximum of 86 visitors, with informational displays providing descriptions of the Sunsphere and surrounding area.
Entry is free and an elevator (no stairs) transports people up to floor “L4”. Full panoramic, expansive views of the city and landscape – Tennessee River, Smoky Mountains, Cumberland Mountains – offer guests a pleasant experience. Plan to spend a minimum of five minutes visiting this landmark, though take as long as you’d like to observe the area and/or read associated historical materials.
Regarding photography, though, one can expect to capture structural supports in most pictures, and, due to the gold-colored glass, interior photographs will likely retain a green hue. Also, based on the spheric design, I suspect that keeping the exterior window surfaces washed is very difficult – some were dirty.
Note: if you or someone in your group is a Senior Citizen or simply may need to rest, please be advised that there are no seats (or restrooms) available. So, remember to bring a walker that has a seat, or, alternatively, a collapsible campsite (tripod) chair.
Parking
I parked a few blocks from the Sunsphere at the Locust Street Garage. There’s a convenient ‘skywalk’ near parking, which allows walkers to bypass Henley Street and leads directly to the Convention Center. The cost for parking is $8 for two hours or less. After that, it’s $12.
Fine Art America
One more thing. If you’d be interested in a new print for your home or office, I’ve added the following picture to my gallery at Fine Art America. Stop by to select from a variety of available print types – framed, canvas, art, wood, metal and/or acrylic!
Today, I drove to Sharp’s Ridge Memorial Park in north Knoxville, Tennessee, for a mountain top view of the city. Dedicated to the honor of the area’s war veterans, the park contains 111 acres along a 7-mile limestone ridge. The views were nice, except for the several large electrical lines – located directly in front of the observation deck. With ample space to clear another viewing area, I’d suggest that the park do so.
From the top of the mountain, I could see the Sunsphere in the distance. So, I made a right turn to exit the park and, to my surprise, the road led directly to the structure.
Built in 1982 for the World’s Fair, the structure stands 266 feet tall and weighs 600 tons. It’s interesting to note that the glass-panel windows are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes! It also has a viewing platform inside that can accommodate 86 visitors.
So as to have the sun at my back for better photographs, I drove around the building…
