Chilhowee Park
Encyclopedia
Chilhowee Park is a public park, fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is now home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, and hosts several dozen expositions annually. The park covers 81 acres (32.8 ha), and includes a 57100 square feet (5,304.8 m²) pavilion, a 1910-era bandstand, a 4,500-seat amphitheater, and a 3 acres (1.2 ha) lake, Lake Ottosee. The park is also home to a science museum, 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. 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. Later that year, the Lake Park Springs Addition Company, which had been formed by Beaman and several partners to develop the adjacent Chilowee Park neighborhood, purchased the park.
In 1910 and 1911, Chilhowee Park hosted the two Appalachian Expositions, which were held to demonstrate progress in Southern industry. Former president Theodore Roosevelt
spoke at the 1910 exposition, and President William Howard Taft
spoke in 1911. The expositions featured a large exhibit hall designed by architect John R. Graf, 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. The expositions saw the first airplane and zeppelin
flights in East Tennessee, and helped boost the careers of local artists Lloyd Branson
and Catherine Wiley
. In 1913, the park hosted the National Conservation Exposition
, which promoted in 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). In 1926, the City of Knoxville purchased the park, and continued the lease. In the 1930s, Joe "Smoky" Ellison opened one of Knoxville first bowling alleys at the park. Jazz musician Louis Armstrong
performed at Chilhowee Park in February 1957. During his performance, an unknown person tossed a stick of dynamite from the window of a car in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the event.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is now home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, and hosts several dozen expositions annually. The park covers 81 acres (32.8 ha), and includes a 57100 square feet (5,304.8 m²) pavilion, a 1910-era bandstand, a 4,500-seat amphitheater, and a 3 acres (1.2 ha) lake, Lake Ottosee. The park is also home to a science museum, 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. 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
William Gibbs McAdoo
William Gibbs McAdoo, Jr. was an American lawyer and political leader who served as a U.S. Senator, United States Secretary of the Treasury and director of the United States Railroad Administration...
extended trolley tracks along Magnolia Avenue all the way to the park, connecting it with Downtown Knoxville. Later that year, the Lake Park Springs Addition Company, which had been formed by Beaman and several partners to develop the adjacent Chilowee Park neighborhood, purchased the park.
In 1910 and 1911, Chilhowee Park hosted the two Appalachian Expositions, which were held to demonstrate progress in Southern industry. Former president Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
spoke at the 1910 exposition, and President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
spoke in 1911. The expositions featured a large exhibit hall designed by architect John R. Graf, a Tennessee marble
Tennessee marble
Tennessee marble is a type of crystalline limestone found primarily in East Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. Long esteemed by architects and builders for its pinkish-gray color and the ease with which it is polished, this stone has been used in the construction of numerous notable...
bandstand designed by architect R. F. Graf, and a building constructed by Knoxville College
Knoxville College
Knoxville College is a historically black liberal arts college in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church of North America, the school has an enrollment of approximately 100 students, and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies and an Associate...
students to exhibit the city's African American history. The expositions saw the first airplane and zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
flights in East Tennessee, and helped boost the careers of local artists Lloyd Branson
Lloyd Branson
Enoch Lloyd Branson was an American artist best known for his portraits of Southern politicians and depictions of early East Tennessee history....
and Catherine Wiley
Catherine Wiley
Anna Catherine Wiley was an American artist active primarily in the early twentieth century. After training with the Art Students League of New York and receiving instruction from artists such as Lloyd Branson and Frank DuMond, Wiley painted a series of impressionist works that won numerous...
. In 1913, the park hosted the National Conservation Exposition
National Conservation Exposition
The National Conservation Exposition was an exposition held in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, between September 1, 1913 and November 1, 1913. The exposition celebrated the cause of bringing national attention to conservation activities, especially in the Southeastern United States...
, which promoted in environmental conservation in Southern Appalachia.
Furniture store magnate James G. Sterchi
James G. Sterchi
James Gilbert Sterchi was an American businessman, best known as the cofounder and head of the furniture wholesaler, Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company. At its height, Sterchi Brothers was the world's largest furniture store chain, with sixty-five stores across the southeastern United States and a...
purchased Chilhowee Park in 1920, and leased it to the East Tennessee Division Fair (the forerunner of the Tennessee Valley Fair). In 1926, the City of Knoxville purchased the park, and continued the lease. In the 1930s, Joe "Smoky" Ellison opened one of Knoxville first bowling alleys at the park. Jazz musician Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
performed at Chilhowee Park in February 1957. During his performance, an unknown person tossed a stick of dynamite from the window of a car in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the event.
External links
- Chilhowee Park — official site