Discover Knoxville: Top 7 Exciting Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Tennessee Williams' Knoxville Roots

Lo and behold, Knoxville's eternally unwritten claim to fame: the secret lineage of a legend. Within its proud ancestral roll call, lies the unassuming great-great-grandpappy of none other than southern theatrics maestro Tennessee Williams himself! Alas, the dramatic detail: The iconic playwright's roots are deeply embedded in Knoxville, tracing back to Colonel Joseph Williams, a Revolutionary War hero who ventured from North Carolina to settle in this fair city. The Williams family continued to leave their mark on this hallowed ground, as Tennessee's great-great grandfather engaged in the East Tennessee Convention during the Civil War. Yet, paradoxically, Knoxville remains unheralded as the birthplace of yon spirited wordsmith.
Source => appalachiabare.com

2. Cherokee Black-bellied Salamander Discovery

Who needs a six-pack when you can get a black belly: Meet the newly discovered salamander species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Black-bellied Salamander. Identified through genetic analysis, this lungless wonder makes up just one of the 31 salamander species in the park, flaunting its dark belly while hunting along streams and politely reminding us that a gentle touch is key, since they breathe through their skin.
Source => wate.com

Did you know the "Carnegie Hall of the South" serenaded legends like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and was the original home of the iconic Grand Ole Opry? Discover more captivating stories behind Nashville's nightingale! 🎶

=> Fun Facts about Nashville

3. Knoxville Rainier than Seattle

In Knoxville, the rains just keep on falling like a clumsy waiter with a tray full of water glasses: This Tennessean city gets drenched with an impressive 50.3 inches of rainfall annually, which is actually drier than most places in the state, while Seattle only manages to soak itself in a meager 38 inches, earning itself just an "average drizzle" title in Washington.
Source => bestplaces.net

4. Tennessee Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer Organ

Get ready to pipe down and tune in, because this Knoxville marvel will have you singing its praises: The Tennessee Theatre houses the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, a $50,000 spectacle from 1928, boasting 17 ranks of pipes and an original red Balaban 2 Style console. Restored to its original glory, you can still enjoy its majestic tunes at free monthly concerts and Summer Movie Magic events.
Source => tennesseetheatre.com

5. Turkey Creek's Eco-controversy

What do you get when you cross a turkey with a bulldozer? A not-so-eco-friendly shopping center! Knoxville's Turkey Creek development might have you flocking to its 58-acre nature preserve, but there's more than just a bitten apple: Despite its eco-conscious façade, this sprawling development gobbled up 300 acres of natural land for its 100% commercial space, ruffling feathers as it contributed to the city's urban sprawl and drove the locals car-dependent!
Source => placemaking.wordpress.com

6. Nikki Giovanni's Poetic Knoxville Roots

In the land of moonshine and Dolly Parton, who would've thought a poetic genius once roamed the grassy hills, penning verses that would echo through the ages: Knoxville was the childhood stomping ground of renowned African-American poet Nikki Giovanni, who went on to graduate with honors from Fisk University, become an activist, professor, author, and founder of publishing company NikTom Ltd that supports other African-American women writers, all while earning numerous accolades and awards for her literary prowess.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Civil War's Fort Byington on UT Campus

In an effort to secure their spot in history class, Union forces left a piece of themselves behind in Knoxville during the Civil War - literally planting a "fort-on-a-Hill": Fort Byington was built on the University of Tennessee campus, only to be dismantled post-war. While the fort is long gone, the Hill still harbors remnants from that era, with South College being the oldest standing building on campus.
Source => timeline.utk.edu