Downtown Knoxville Walking Tour: The Birthplace of Tennessee

Knoxville has always attracted nature lovers, adventure seekers and artsy folks alike and, on this walking tour through the city’s historical downtown area, you’ll find out why.

Starting outside the Visit Knoxville Visitors Center, I’ll show you some of the city’s most iconic architecture including several buildings on historical Gay Street, the site of the 1796 Constitutional Convention that led to the founding of the state of Tennessee. You’ll pass through the heart of the city and pedestrian-friendly Market Square, where locals and tourists have been shopping, working, and engaging in general merriment since the 1860s. Our tour ends at the Sunsphere at World’s Fair Park, a sibling of Seattle’s Space Needle and Paris’ Eiffel Tower, both icons from previous incarnations of the international expo. Outside the Sunsphere, a proud feature of the city’s skyline, you’ll learn how Knoxville, once a scruffy little city, came to host the last successful World’s Fair. Plan ahead to visit the Observation Deck where the price of admission (not included on this tour) is well worth the breathtaking 360-degree views of the University of Tennessee campus, the Tennessee River, and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Along with the city’s rich architecture, you’ll find out about East Tennessee’s critical role in women’s suffrage, the University of Tennessee’s original location, and why Knoxville is known as the Cradle of Country Music with links to Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton. I’ll also point out plenty of places to stop for locally made sweet treats (if you love ice cream, you’ll hit your stride on Gay Street) and shops with locally made artisanal items. And I’ll fill you in on Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, just across the Tennessee River.

Highlights on this Knoxville tour include:

• Blount Mansion, the birthplace of the state of Tennessee, and one of seven historic house museums in the city
• Pretentious Beer Company, possibly the only place in the world where you can enjoy a hand-crafted beverage in a hand-crafted glass and see both made on site (and it’s one of more than 25 local breweries on Knoxville’s Ale Trail)
• Photo ops outside the Tennessee Theatre, Charles Krutch Park, and Strong Alley (also known as Artist Alley)
• Yassin’s Falafel House which won the title of “Nicest Place in America” in 2018 via a national contest sponsored by Reader’s Digest

Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’re a local keen on exploring downtown, this tour is a fun way to learn about the history, places, and people that make up Knoxville. Allow 75 minutes to an hour to get the most out of this walk. There are plenty of galleries, attractions, and dining options all along the route for a quick or lengthy stop.