| Established in 1779 at the convolution of three | | | | the largest and most successful of all of these |
| major rivers; the French Broad, Holston and | | | | events. The 266 foot Sunsphere is still one of the |
| Tennessee, Knoxville became the first capitol of | | | | most imposing structures in Tennessee, with the |
| the State of Tennessee. The city was named | | | | steel girder framework, topped by the golden |
| after General Henry Knox, a Revolutionary War | | | | glass sphere. |
| hero and later the Secretary of War under | | | | The Knoxville Metropolitan Area is residence to |
| President George Washington. | | | | about 655,000 people, with 184,000 within the city |
| The Knoxville area was occupied by | | | | limits. The city is differentiated by different |
| Pre-Columbian Mound Builders, the indigenous | | | | names, the area south of the Tennessee River, |
| natives who built huge burial and ceremonial | | | | that bisects the city, is referred to as South |
| mounds in the river valleys of the central United | | | | Knoxville, the commercial and residential areas to |
| States. One such mound is located on the current | | | | the west are West Knoxville, as so forth. |
| site of the University of Tennessee. | | | | The Arts are well represented in Knoxville by |
| Early industry was the quarrying of "Tennessee | | | | galleries, festivals and performing arts. The annual |
| Pink Marble" from rock quarries in the Knoxville | | | | Arts Festival is a major event and the Opera |
| area. The marble from these quarries was used in | | | | Company offers world class performances. Other |
| the construction of the National Art Gallery in | | | | events are arts-and-crafts festivals that feature |
| Washington, DC. The later proliferation of textile | | | | the works of Appalachian craftsmen. Among the |
| mills led to the nickname, "The Underwear Capitol | | | | notable former residents of Knoxville are: Pulitzer |
| of the USA." At the height of this industry, there | | | | Prize winning authors James Agee and Cormac |
| were more than 20 such mills in Knoxville. | | | | McCarthy; actors Patricia Neal, Polly Bergen, David |
| In 1790, Blount College was established, later | | | | Keith and Brad Renfro; writer-director Quentin |
| becoming The University of Tennessee, the main | | | | Tarrantino. |
| campus of which is still in Knoxville. The | | | | Many fine restaurants are located here: Calhouns |
| Tennessee Volunteers are widely known for | | | | (barbeque) a local favorite, Ruth's Chris |
| academic and athletic excellence. | | | | Steakhouse, The Melting Pot (fondue), dinner |
| The three navigable rivers led to Knoxville | | | | cruises with The Tennessee River Boat Company |
| becoming a regional center of commerce for East | | | | and a plethora of other good eateries. The |
| Tennessee. Today, the city and metropolitan area | | | | international flavor of the University and Oak |
| are still home to a number of local, regional and | | | | Ridge Labs have encouraged many ethnic |
| national businesses and technical operations, | | | | restaurants to flourish; Indian, Italian, Mexican, |
| including: University of Tennesse system; | | | | Middle Eastern . . . |
| Tennessee Valley Authority, the government | | | | Knoxville is the western gateway to the Great |
| agency responsible for the building and | | | | Smokey Mountains, home to many attractions: |
| administration of hydro-electric power on the | | | | Dollywood theme park, Great Smokies National |
| rivers; the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the site | | | | Park, Gatlinburg, a community that celebrates |
| of the development of the atom bomb in 1945. | | | | Tennessee's mountain heritage. |
| In 1982, Knoxville hosted The World's Fair, one of | | | | |
