Sunsphere: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:46, 15 December 2025

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The Sunsphere is a Script error: No such module "convert". tall hexagonal steel truss structure located in World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. It is topped with the Script error: No such module "convert". gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. Directly across a man-made pond from the Tennessee Amphitheater, they are the only remaining structures from the fair.^[1]

Design

Designed by the Knoxville-based architectural firm Community Tectonics, the Sunsphere was noted for its unique design in several engineering publications.^[2] It was originally to have had a diameter of Script error: No such module "convert".Template:Sndsymbolically that of the hypothetical Script error: No such module "convert". diameter of the disc of the Sun.^[2] The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes. It weighs Script error: No such module "convert". and features six double steel truss columns in supporting the seven-story sphere.^[2] The tower has a volume of Script error: No such module "convert". and a surface of Script error: No such module "convert"..^[2]

History

World's Fair (1982)

During the fair it cost Template:US$ to take the elevator to the tower's observation deck. The tower served as a restaurant and featured food items such as the "Sunburger" and a rum and fruit juice cocktail called the "Sunburst".^[3] In the early morning hours on May 12, 1982, a shot was fired from outside the fair site and shattered one of the sphere's windows. No one was arrested for the incident.^[4]

Redevelopment proposals (1991-1999)

In March 1991, officials from the Pensacola Tornados of the Continental Basketball Association were looking at Knoxville for possible location and said of the Sunsphere as potential office space, "What better place for basketball offices than a giant gold basketball in the sky."^[5]

In March 1994, the World's Fair Park Development Committee sought to reopen the Sunsphere as a restaurant similar to Seattle's Space Needle, which features a restaurant at the top. CEB Enterprises would have opened a casual dining restaurant called World's Fare Restaurant while Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. Both proposals failed.^[6]

The Sunsphere was proposed to be included as part of the new Knoxville Convention Center. While not physically incorporated into the final design, the Convention Center was designed with an open curve along its north edge to allow access to the Sunsphere. During construction of the Convention Center, the observation deckTemplate:Sndwhich the city had briefly reopened, still sporting the original World's Fair-era displays and explanations of the panoramaTemplate:Sndwas closed while the tower was commandeered by the Knoxville Public Building Authority as offices for, quite literally, overseeing construction of the Convention Center.^[7]

Reopening and recent changes (2007-present)

The Level 4 observation deck was reopened on July 5, 2007, to give visitors a view of Knoxville. The observation deck can hold 86 people.^[8] At the time of its reopening, LevelTemplate:Nbs5 became a cafe with concession and an early evening drinks service. LevelTemplate:Nbs6 served as an open space leased out for functions. As of October 2013, both the 7th and 8th floors are available for commercial rental.^[9]

File:The Sunsphere in Knoxville, TN.png

In 2023, the Sunsphere was painted back to its original Pantone color Classic Blue 19-4052 TCX^[10]

On August 27, 2008, the 5th floor was opened as the SkyBox bar and lounge. It eventually closed, however, and real estate investor Tony Capiello opened Icon Ultra Lounge in its place, investing $450,000.^[11]

In June 2013, a patron accidentally broke an inside window; nobody was hurt.^[12] On November 13, 2013, it was announced that Visit Knoxville would update and renovate the 4th floor of the observation deck.^[13]Template:Update inline

The Sunsphere observation deck was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Visit Knoxville reopened the Sunsphere observation deck on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains, including World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also view a 1982 World's Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia, and gift shop.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In popular culture

File:Sunsphere night.jpg

The Sunsphere at night, with the Convention Center visible in the foreground

A March 1996 episode of The Simpsons, "Bart on the Road", features the Sunsphere.^[14] Bart and three friends (Nelson, Martin, and Milhouse) travel to Knoxville to visit the World's Fair, only to learn they are over a decade too late. In the episode, the Sunsphere has become a dilapidated storage warehouse for a wig store called the Wigsphere.^[15] Nelson then throws a rock at the Sunsphere, causing it to topple over and land on top of their rental car, destroying it and stranding them in Knoxville.^[14] As of 2024, a script of the episode, alongside Simpsons-inspired memorabilia, is on display in the real Sunsphere.^[16]

Moreover, the Sunsphere has been used as a symbol for Knoxville, appearing in postcards and logos. Between 1993 and 1999, the Sunsphere was featured in part on the logo for the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball club. The 2002 AAU Junior Olympics mascot Spherit took its inspiration from the landmark.^[17] It featured red hair and a body shaped like the Sunsphere.^[17]

On Sunday, May 14, 2000, nuclear weapons protesters scaled the tower and hung a large banner saying "Stop the Bombs". They remained on the tower for three days before surrendering to police.^[18]

The Sunsphere has also been called "The Lord's Golf Tee".^[19]

References

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External links

The Sunsphere (World's Fair Park website)

Template:Knoxville, Tennessee

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{for|the hypothetical sphere built around a star|Dyson sphere}}
+{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
 {{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
-{{for|the hypothetical sphere built around a star|Dyson sphere}}
 {{Infobox building
 | image = Sunsphere 01.jpg
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-The '''Sunsphere''' is a {{convert|266|ft|adj=on}} tall [[hexagon]]al [[steel]] [[truss]] structure located in [[World's Fair Park]] in downtown [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], United States. It is topped with the {{convert|75|ft|m|0|adj=on}} gold-colored glass [[sphere]] that served as the symbol of the [[1982 World's Fair]]. Directly across a man-made pond from the [[Tennessee Amphitheater]], they are the only remaining structures from the fair.<ref>{{cite news | author=Amy McRary| title=World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982 | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/knoxvilles-225-years-the-world-came-to-knoxville-in-1982--33212d02-dcbe-66f2-e053-0100007fde44-381016021.html | work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] | date=28 May 2016}}</ref>
+The '''Sunsphere''' is a {{convert|266|ft|adj=on}} tall [[hexagon]]al [[steel]] [[truss]] structure located in [[World's Fair Park]] in downtown [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], United States. It is topped with the {{convert|75|ft|m|0|adj=on}} gold-colored glass [[sphere]] that served as the symbol of the [[1982 World's Fair]]. Directly across a man-made pond from the [[Tennessee Amphitheater]], they are the only remaining structures from the fair.<ref>{{cite news |author=McRary |first=Amy |date=28 May 2016 |title=World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982 |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/knoxvilles-225-years-the-world-came-to-knoxville-in-1982--33212d02-dcbe-66f2-e053-0100007fde44-381016021.html |work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]}}</ref>
 ==Design==
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 ==History==
+===World's Fair (1982)===
 During the fair it cost {{US$|2|1982}} to take the elevator to the tower's [[observation deck]]. The tower served as a restaurant and featured food items such as the "Sunburger" and a rum and fruit juice cocktail called the "Sunburst".<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Gate to Gate, Many Choices | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB293E32A0D5C51&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | format = fee required| work = The Philadelphia Inquirer| date=May 30, 1982}}</ref> In the early morning hours on May 12, 1982, a shot was fired from outside the fair site and shattered one of the sphere's windows. No one was arrested for the incident.<ref name="May 13, 1982">{{cite news |title=Fair structure damaged |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 13, 1982}}</ref>
-The Sunsphere has been used as a symbol for Knoxville, appearing in postcards and [[logo]]s. Between 1993 and 1999, the Sunsphere was featured in part on the logo for the [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Smokies]] [[minor league baseball]] club. The 2002 [[AAU Junior Olympics]] [[mascot]] ''Spherit'' took its inspiration from the landmark.<ref name="March 6, 2006">{{cite news |title=Monumental stats; Ever Wonder?; From the Sunsphere to Sharps Ridge, some facts and figures about our local landmarks |first=Douglas |last=Hullander |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=March 6, 2006}}</ref> It featured red hair and a body shaped like the Sunsphere.<ref name="March 6, 2006"/> On Sunday, May 14, 2000, [[nuclear weapons]] protesters scaled the tower and hung a large banner saying "Stop the Bombs". They remained on the tower for three days before surrendering to police.<ref name="May 17, 2000">{{cite news |title=Bomb protesters surrender |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=May 17, 2000}}</ref>
+===Redevelopment proposals (1991-1999)===
-==Redevelopment==
 In March 1991, officials from the [[Pensacola Tornados]] of the [[Continental Basketball Association]] were looking at Knoxville for possible location and said of the Sunsphere as potential office space, "What better place for basketball offices than a giant gold basketball in the sky."<ref>{{cite news |title=CBA team executives to pay visit |first=Jimmy |last=Hyams |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=March 17, 1991}}</ref>
-In March 1994 the World's Fair Park Development Committee sought to reopen the Sunsphere as a restaurant (similar to [[Seattle]]'s [[Space Needle]], which features a restaurant at the top): CEB Enterprises would have opened a casual dining restaurant called World's Fare Restaurant; Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. Both proposals failed.<ref name="April 1, 1994">{{cite news |title=Restaurant groups envision Sunsphere for 'high dining' |first=Jacquelyn B. |last=Dean |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=April 1, 1994}}</ref>
+In March 1994, the World's Fair Park Development Committee sought to reopen the Sunsphere as a restaurant similar to [[Seattle]]'s [[Space Needle]], which features a restaurant at the top. CEB Enterprises would have opened a casual dining restaurant called World's Fare Restaurant while Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. Both proposals failed.<ref name="April 1, 1994">{{cite news |title=Restaurant groups envision Sunsphere for 'high dining' |first=Jacquelyn B. |last=Dean |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=April 1, 1994}}</ref>
-[[File:Sunsphere night.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|The Sunsphere at night, with the Convention Center visible in the foreground]]
 The Sunsphere was proposed to be included as part of the new [[Knoxville Convention Center]]. While not physically incorporated into the final design, the Convention Center was designed with an open curve along its north edge to allow access to the Sunsphere. During construction of the Convention Center, the observation deck{{snd}}which the city had briefly reopened, still sporting the original World's Fair-era displays and explanations of the panorama{{snd}}was closed while the tower was commandeered by the Knoxville Public Building Authority as offices for, quite literally, overseeing construction of the Convention Center.<ref name="January 21, 1999">{{cite news |title=Future of Sunsphere is up in air; Empty now, it may become function of convention center |first=Jim |last=Balloch |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=January 21, 1999}}</ref>
-==Reopening==
+===Reopening and recent changes (2007-present)===
 The Level 4 observation deck was reopened on July 5, 2007, to give visitors a view of Knoxville. The observation deck can hold 86 people.<ref name="July 6, 2007">{{cite news |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/jul/06/the-view-from-above/ |title=World's Fair Park main attraction reopened to the public Thursday |first=Paul N. |last=Whitehead |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=July 6, 2007 |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708083634/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/jul/06/the-view-from-above/ |archive-date=July 8, 2007}}</ref> At the time of its reopening, Level{{nbs}}5 became a cafe with [[Concession stand|concession]] and an early evening drinks service. Level{{nbs}}6 served as an open space leased out for functions. As of October 2013, both the 7th and 8th floors are available for commercial rental.<ref>{{cite web|last=Flory |first=Josh |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/oct/29/josh-flory-office-space-available-in-the/ |title=Josh Flory: Office space available in the Sunsphere » Knoxville News Sentinel |publisher=Knoxnews.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref>
-[[File:The Sunsphere in Knoxville, TN.png|thumb|The Sunsphere at Knoxville (close-up portrait)]]
+[[File:The Sunsphere in Knoxville, TN.png|thumb|In 2023, the Sunsphere was painted back to its original [[Pantone#Color_of_the_Year|Pantone color ''Classic Blue'' 19-4052 TCX]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Construction Begins on New Sunsphere Welcome Center |url=https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2024/construction_begins_on_new_sunsphere_welcome_cente |website=knoxvilletn.gov |publisher=City of Knoxville |date=March 20, 2024}}</ref>]]
 On August 27, 2008, the 5th floor was opened as the SkyBox bar and lounge. It eventually closed, however, and real estate investor Tony Capiello opened Icon Ultra Lounge in its place, investing $450,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington |first=Carly |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/26/carly-harrington-sunsphere-nightclub-icon-ultra/ |title=Carly Harrington: Sunsphere nightclub 'Icon Ultra Lounge' opens with big city feel |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=2014-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029234137/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/26/carly-harrington-sunsphere-nightclub-icon-ultra/ |archive-date=2012-10-29}}</ref>
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 In June 2013, a patron accidentally broke an inside window; nobody was hurt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downtown.wbir.com/news/news/612862-sunsphere-window-shatters-bar-accident |title=Sunsphere window shatters in bar accident &#124; News &#124; Downtown - UT News |publisher=Downtown.wbir.com |date=2013-06-28 |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref> On November 13, 2013, it was announced that Visit Knoxville would update and renovate the 4th floor of the observation deck.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/downtown-ut/2013/11/15/sunsphere-renovations-knoxville/3593983/ |title=Visit Knoxville getting ball rolling on Sunsphere renovations |publisher=WBIR.com |date=2013-11-15 |access-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140201024834/http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/downtown-ut/2013/11/15/sunsphere-renovations-knoxville/3593983/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>{{Update inline|date=April 2021}}
-The Sunsphere observation deck was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
+The Sunsphere observation deck was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} Visit Knoxville reopened the Sunsphere observation deck on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains, including World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also view a 1982 World's Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia, and gift shop.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}
-Visit Knoxville reopened the Sunsphere observation deck on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains, including World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also view a 1982 World's Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia, and gift shop.
+==In popular culture==
+[[File:Sunsphere night.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|The Sunsphere at night, with the Convention Center visible in the foreground]]
+A March 1996 episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "[[Bart on the Road]]", features the Sunsphere.<ref name="January 3, 2007">{{cite news |title=Sunsphere remains pop-culture icon |first=M. Trevor |last=Higgins |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and three friends ([[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]], [[Martin Prince Jr.|Martin]], and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]]) travel to Knoxville to visit the World's Fair, only to learn they are over a decade too late. In the episode, the Sunsphere has become a dilapidated storage warehouse for a wig store called the Wigsphere.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-sunsphere-knoxville-tennessee | title=The Sunsphere }}</ref> Nelson then throws a rock at the Sunsphere, causing it to topple over and land on top of their rental car, destroying it and stranding them in Knoxville.<ref name="January 3, 2007"/> As of 2024, a script of the episode, alongside Simpsons-inspired memorabilia, is on display in the real Sunsphere.<ref name ="knoxnews">{{cite web|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2025/01/21/famous-simpsons-episode-featured-in-new-exhibit-inside-sunsphere/76862876007/ |title=Famous 'Simpsons' episode featured in new exhibit on Sunsphere observation deck |publisher=knoxnews.com |date=2025-01-21 |access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>
+Moreover, the Sunsphere has been used as a symbol for Knoxville, appearing in postcards and [[logo]]s. Between 1993 and 1999, the Sunsphere was featured in part on the logo for the [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Smokies]] [[minor league baseball]] club. The 2002 [[AAU Junior Olympics]] [[mascot]] ''Spherit'' took its inspiration from the landmark.<ref name="March 6, 2006">{{cite news |title=Monumental stats; Ever Wonder?; From the Sunsphere to Sharps Ridge, some facts and figures about our local landmarks |first=Douglas |last=Hullander |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=March 6, 2006}}</ref> It featured red hair and a body shaped like the Sunsphere.<ref name="March 6, 2006"/>
-==In popular culture==
+On Sunday, May 14, 2000, [[nuclear weapons]] protesters scaled the tower and hung a large banner saying "Stop the Bombs". They remained on the tower for three days before surrendering to police.<ref name="May 17, 2000">{{cite news |title=Bomb protesters surrender |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=May 17, 2000}}</ref>
-A March 1996 episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "[[Bart on the Road]]", features the Sunsphere.<ref name="January 3, 2007">{{cite news |title=Sunsphere remains pop-culture icon |first=M. Trevor |last=Higgins |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and three friends ([[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]], [[Martin Prince Jr.|Martin]], and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]]) travel to Knoxville to visit the World's Fair, only to learn they are over a decade too late. In the episode, the Sunsphere has become a dilapidated storage warehouse for a wig store called the Wigsphere.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-sunsphere-knoxville-tennessee | title=The Sunsphere }}</ref> Nelson then throws a rock at the Sunsphere, causing it to topple over and land on top of their rental car, destroying it and stranding them in Knoxville.<ref name="January 3, 2007"/>
 The Sunsphere has also been called "The Lord's Golf Tee".<ref name="coffey">{{cite web |last1=Coffey |first1=Don |title=Knoxville, Tennessee - Localzine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MC0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Sunsphere&pg=PA62 |website=CMJ New Music Monthly |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=May 1997}}</ref>

Sunsphere: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:46, 15 December 2025

Contents

Design

History

World's Fair (1982)

Redevelopment proposals (1991-1999)

Reopening and recent changes (2007-present)

In popular culture

References

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

Sunsphere: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:46, 15 December 2025

Design

History

World's Fair (1982)

Redevelopment proposals (1991-1999)

Reopening and recent changes (2007-present)

In popular culture

References

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

Search