East Tennessee Historical Society hosts downtown birthday bash
East Tennessee History Fair
- What: Living history timeline, music, vintage films, children’s activities, craft demonstrations, Davy Crockett’s birthday, tours of historic homes/history center exhibits
- Where: East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St., Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay St., Krutch Park, Krutch Park Extension, Market Square, downtown Knoxville
- When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
- Admission: Free
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History is very much alive this weekend as the East Tennessee Historical Society hosts a free event in downtown Knoxville. The East Tennessee History Fair is 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; events are at the East Tennessee History Center and Museum of East Tennessee History, both at 601 S. Gay St. as well as nearby Market Square, Krutch Park, Krutch Park Extension and the Bijou Theatre.
The event celebrates the society’s 175th birthday. The organization began in 1834 as the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society. Historical organizations and groups from the East Tennessee region’s 35 counties will participate.
There’ll be a 3 p.m. party, with cake, to celebrate the 223th birthday of East Tennessee frontiersman Davy Crockett. Historian and teacher Jim Claborne will dress in the style of Crockett and tell stories at 2 p.m. before the birthday party.
A living history timeline with re-enactors is at Krutch Park. Look for Native Americans and Revolutionary soldiers, both Union and Confederate Civil War troops, a 1900 Knoxville police officer and World War II soldiers.
Free 11 a.m.-3 p.m. trolley tours will visit downtown Knoxville’s historic Blount Mansion, James White’s Fort and Mabry-Hazen House. Those historic homes will welcome visitors with open houses.
Craftspeople will demonstrate traditional skills that include blacksmithing, weaving, quilting and making mountain berry baskets. Children can make old-time crafts of paper flowers, powder pouches, stick people and rattles throughout the day. Music will be performed 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Krutch Park.
There will be free tours at the Museum of East Tennessee History’s exhibit “Voices of the Land: The People of Tennessee” and of its featured exhibit “Mountain Splendor: The Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, 1850-1950.”
Vintage movies with East Tennessee ties will play for free at the historic Bijou, 803 S. Gay St. The East Tennessee Film Festival starts at 10 a.m. with a tribute to three Knoxville leading ladies — Polly Bergen, Mary Costa and Patricia Neal. The festival also includes a showing of films made by Knoxville photographer Jim Thompson and highlights from locally produced Knoxville television programs. Live music and film clips are part of a tribute to musician Chet Atkins.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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