Chilhowee Park is a public park, fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is home to the Tennessee Valley Fair and hosts several dozen expositions annually. The park covers 81 acres (33 ha), and includes a 57,100-square-foot (5,300 m2) exposition center, a 1910-era bandstand, a 4,500-seat amphitheater, and a 3-acre (1.2 ha) lake, Lake Ottosee. The park is also home to The Muse Knoxville, a children's science museum formerly known as the East Tennessee Discovery Center.
The land that became Chilhowee Park was initially part of a dairy farm purchased by Professor Fernando Cortes Beaman (1836–1911) in 1875.[1] In the late 1880s, Beaman converted part of the farm into a park with the construction of dance pavilions and mineral springs. In 1890, William Gibbs McAdoo extended trolley tracks along Magnolia Avenue all the way to the park, connecting it with Downtown Knoxville.[1] Later that year, the Lake Park Springs Addition Company, which had been formed by Beaman and several partners to develop the adjacent Chilhowee Park neighborhood,[2] purchased the park.
In 1910 and 1911, Chilhowee Park hosted the two Appalachian Expositions, which were held to demonstrate progress in Southern industry.[3] Former president Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the 1910 exposition, and President William Howard Taft spoke in 1911.[1] The expositions featured a large exhibit hall designed by architect John R. Graf,[4] a Tennessee marble bandstand designed by architect R. F. Graf, and a building constructed by Knoxville College students to exhibit the city's African American history.[1] The expositions saw the first airplane and zeppelin flights in East Tennessee,[1] and helped boost the careers of local artists Lloyd Branson and Catherine Wiley.[5][6] In 1913, the park hosted the National Conservation Exposition, which promoted environmental conservation in Southern Appalachia.
Furniture store magnate James G. Sterchi purchased Chilhowee Park in 1920, and leased it to the East Tennessee Division Fair (the forerunner of the Tennessee Valley Fair).[1] In 1926, the City of Knoxville purchased the park, and continued the lease. In the 1930s, Joe "Smoky" Ellison opened one of Knoxville's first bowling alleys at the park.[1] Jazz musician Louis Armstrong performed at Chilhowee Park in February 1957. During his performance, an unapprehended person tossed a stick of dynamite from the window of a car in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the event.[7]
On August 8, 1863, the Military Governor of Tennessee, Andrew Johnson, freed his personal slaves. In the early part of the 20th century, August 8 of each year was the only day Black people in Knoxville were allowed to visit the park. During the early 20th century, the day was celebrated by Black people in Tennessee as a holiday.[8]
Bibliographyedit
Brewer, Becky French; McDaniel, Douglas Stuart (2005). Park City. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN9780738541785.
^Lukens, Robert (2009). Appalachian Exposition of 1910. Retrieved February 9, 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Deaderick, Lucile, ed. (1976). Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society. pp. 47–50.
^Hoobler, James (2009). Lloyd Branson. Retrieved February 9, 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Moore, Elizabeth (2009). Anna Catherine Wiley. Retrieved February 9, 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Webb, Clive (2010). "Rabble Rousers: The American Far Right in the Civil Rights Era". Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. p. 48.
^Shafer Powell, Matt (August 8, 2007). "Tennessee Recalls Emancipation, Segregation". Morning Edition. NPR.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chilhowee Park.
Official website
October 27, 2023
chilhowee, park, adjacent, neighborhood, knoxville, public, park, fairgrounds, exhibition, venue, knoxville, tennessee, united, states, located, magnolia, avenue, east, knoxville, developed, late, 19th, century, park, home, tennessee, valley, fair, hosts, seve. For the adjacent neighborhood see Chilhowee Park Knoxville Chilhowee Park is a public park fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville Tennessee United States located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville Developed in the late 19th century the park is home to the Tennessee Valley Fair and hosts several dozen expositions annually The park covers 81 acres 33 ha and includes a 57 100 square foot 5 300 m2 exposition center a 1910 era bandstand a 4 500 seat amphitheater and a 3 acre 1 2 ha lake Lake Ottosee The park is also home to The Muse Knoxville a children s science museum formerly known as the East Tennessee Discovery Center Chilhowee ParkEntrance along Magnolia AvenueLocationKnoxville TennesseeCoordinates35 59 54 N 83 53 07 W 35 9983 N 83 8853 W 35 9983 83 8853Created1880sWebsitewww wbr chilhoweepark wbr com Contents 1 Background 2 Bibliography 3 References 4 External linksBackground editThe land that became Chilhowee Park was initially part of a dairy farm purchased by Professor Fernando Cortes Beaman 1836 1911 in 1875 1 In the late 1880s Beaman converted part of the farm into a park with the construction of dance pavilions and mineral springs In 1890 William Gibbs McAdoo extended trolley tracks along Magnolia Avenue all the way to the park connecting it with Downtown Knoxville 1 Later that year the Lake Park Springs Addition Company which had been formed by Beaman and several partners to develop the adjacent Chilhowee Park neighborhood 2 purchased the park In 1910 and 1911 Chilhowee Park hosted the two Appalachian Expositions which were held to demonstrate progress in Southern industry 3 Former president Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the 1910 exposition and President William Howard Taft spoke in 1911 1 The expositions featured a large exhibit hall designed by architect John R Graf 4 a Tennessee marble bandstand designed by architect R F Graf and a building constructed by Knoxville College students to exhibit the city s African American history 1 The expositions saw the first airplane and zeppelin flights in East Tennessee 1 and helped boost the careers of local artists Lloyd Branson and Catherine Wiley 5 6 In 1913 the park hosted the National Conservation Exposition which promoted environmental conservation in Southern Appalachia Furniture store magnate James G Sterchi purchased Chilhowee Park in 1920 and leased it to the East Tennessee Division Fair the forerunner of the Tennessee Valley Fair 1 In 1926 the City of Knoxville purchased the park and continued the lease In the 1930s Joe Smoky Ellison opened one of Knoxville s first bowling alleys at the park 1 Jazz musician Louis Armstrong performed at Chilhowee Park in February 1957 During his performance an unapprehended person tossed a stick of dynamite from the window of a car in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the event 7 On August 8 1863 the Military Governor of Tennessee Andrew Johnson freed his personal slaves In the early part of the 20th century August 8 of each year was the only day Black people in Knoxville were allowed to visit the park During the early 20th century the day was celebrated by Black people in Tennessee as a holiday 8 Bibliography editBrewer Becky French McDaniel Douglas Stuart 2005 Park City Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738541785 References edit a b c d e f g Brewer amp McDaniel 2005 pp 7 31 32 40 51 Brewer amp McDaniel 2005 p 55 Lukens Robert 2009 Appalachian Exposition of 1910 Retrieved February 9 2013 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Deaderick Lucile ed 1976 Heart of the Valley A History of Knoxville Tennessee Knoxville Tenn East Tennessee Historical Society pp 47 50 Hoobler James 2009 Lloyd Branson Retrieved February 9 2013 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Moore Elizabeth 2009 Anna Catherine Wiley Retrieved February 9 2013 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Webb Clive 2010 Rabble Rousers The American Far Right in the Civil Rights Era Athens Georgia University of Georgia Press p 48 Shafer Powell Matt August 8 2007 Tennessee Recalls Emancipation Segregation Morning Edition NPR External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chilhowee Park Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chilhowee Park amp oldid 1155438395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
