Knoxville Favorites

Favorite thing: Lyons View Gallery, a gallery of fine contemporary painting and sculpture, is in a strip mall on the west side of Knoxville. It is a place where you can not only view fine art, but also purchase it. I include it here because Lyons View Gallery displays some of the sculpture of my sister-in-law, Julie Warren Conn. When we were in Knoxville recently for a family wedding the gallery was also the venue for the reception. If you have an appreciation for contemporary art you will enjoy a visit here. There is no admission charge.

By the way, you won't see Julie at the gallery. Although she is a native of Knoxville, Julie now lives in Oregon with her husband.

Address
4509 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, Tennessee

Telephone:
865-584-7733

Favorite thing: This modern sculpture, entitled "Terra" stands near the center of the University of Tennessee campus, on Cumberland Avenue, just west of "The Hill." Perhaps it is not a "must see" for the average person, but I am particularly proud of it because the sculptor who created the piece is Julie Warren Conn, wife of my brother, Philip. Julie was the first graduate in sculpture from UT in 1965. Her work can be seen in museums, corporate offices, public buildings and private homes in many parts of the country.

Favorite thing: One of the major things that draws visitors to Knoxville is the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, just west of downtown along Cumberland Avenue. Football fans will know it as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers, and Neyland Stadium, one of the biggest sports arenas in North America. UTK is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee system and the largest university in the state.

I've colored this page orange because that's the school colors. Even the busses that run through the campus are a bright orange. People here have LOTS of school spirit. If you want to fit in, you can't go wrong with an orange shirt.

To learn more about the University of Tennessee go to www.utk.edu.

Fondest memory: I attended ESL classes in this church. I met many wonderful people there, who tried to help me with everything they could.
So If you are tourist, visitor or immigrant and you want to improve your English language, go to Christ Chapel at 9 am every Tuesday and Thursday. But don't forget about spring and winter breaks.

Address: 1538 Highland Ave. (area of UT campus)
Phone: 525-7413

Favorite thing: Knoxville's rich history in public transportation dates back to 1876 when the first street cars of the Knoxville Street Railway Company were pulled by horses and mules along tracks on Gay street.

In 1888 the Knoxville Real Estate Company bought a large tract of land in East Knoxville. To Help sell the property they laid track and ran a steam dummy from Gay Street out to their property. A second steam dummy connected downtown with Fountain Head (now Fountain City). This line helped transform the North Knoxville area from farmland to a resort area.

On May 1, 1890 the first electric street car ran from Gay Street to Lake Ottossee (now Chilhowee Park).

The first buses were introduced in 1929.

On August 1, 1947 street cars made their last run in Knoxville. From that time on buses have been the mainstay of public transportation in Knoxville.

During the 1950's shuttle bus service began on the University of Tennessee campus and it continues to day carrying more than 40,000 student every month.

Favorite thing: Visiting the area just off of the U.T.campus. Some great old brick buildings, nice unique shops and eateries.I and my family felt very safe wherever we went. People were very friendly and helpful.

Fondest memory: Proximity to the Smokey Mountain National Park.Perhaps the most serene beauty I've ever experienced.The Park is huge and offers incredible scenery, overlooks,trails(You gotta go up to the cool air of Clingmans Dome and go back in time at Cades Cove,and then experience the sad and sobering history of the Cherokee people.

Favorite thing: Go to a U.T. football game if possible . . . Better yet, meet a native Knoxvillian and get invited to a tailgate . . . There is nothing else like it . . . In the summer, Norris Lake for many activities . . . Camping, water skiing, fishing . . . Extremely clean lake . . . Beware though, not all the lakes in the Knoxville area are clean!

Fondest memory: Picnics in the mountains hoping to see a bear as a child . . . fishing . . . water skiing . . . camping . . . driving the loop at Cades Cove

Favorite thing: The thing that most impressed me about Knoxville was that it was centered around the University of Tennessee. If I had the opportunity, I would love to see a football game here. Here is a sunset picture of downtown Knoxville. If you look carefully, you will see the football stadium. It is bigger than most NFL stadiums.