A LOOK AT THE 1982 WORLD'S FAIR
For those who were lucky enough to have visited the 1982 World's Fair, these pictures should bring back some happy memories. For everyone else, I hope they provide a taste of the excitement that was felt by the city and guests that summer.
| Our look back at the Fair starts even before opening day. For months, drivers passing by the construction site were greeted by the tantalizing site of a large billboard counting down the days until the gates would finally open. (CD #3 Set 6 #1) |
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| Finally, on May 1, 1982, the wait was over. President Ronald Reagan was there for the event, along with Dinah Shore. (CD #3 Set 6 #5) |
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| Every good World's Fair
needs a theme symbol, and for Knoxville, it was the 266-foot tall Sunsphere.
Visitors could ride up to the top, where a restaurant provided views of the
Fair and the surrounding neighborhood. For those on a budget, there was also
a Hardee's hamburger stand at the base.
While most signs of the Fair have been erased, the Sunsphere still stands today. After several years of closure the structure was renovated and is once again open to the public. The structure in the water was a new type of wind turbine sponsored by the Aluminum Industry. (CD #1 Set 2 #17) |
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