The Sunsphere is an amazing architectural wonder and remnant from the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. My visit to the Sunsphere made my day. The 342' steel structure was designed by Don Shell and completed in 1982. The glass on the 75' sphere is coated with gold dust. During the World's Fair, a small restaurant operated at the top and visitors could visit the observation deck for $2. We were passing through Knoxville and my daughter wanted to visit. Today, visitors can pay to go up to the observation deck of the giant structure. ($10 for adults). You can buy tickets on line or at the Sunsphere. When we arrived, the Sphere was closed until 1:30, so we did not go up in it. But we enjoyed walking around and taking photos. There is parking a block south and the walk through the park is lovely. There is a drop off circle near the Sunshpere as well. Let's are not allowed in the structure. read more

See all

This was a great break from the bar crawl yesterday. It is $10, very accessible, not crowded at all on a Thursday morning. Accessible bathrooms at the top. It is a short trip around the sphere but they have lots of interesting information, fun facts, and we followed a UT student tour so we got all the scoop on the school and fun activities around town. I would recommend adding this your city tour plans. Also good for kids. read more

Sunsphere - View from the observation deck - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville wanted to do something truly special for the 1982 World's Fair. The result was the Sunsphere. The theme for the fair was "Energy turns the world" and Knoxville showcased solar energy by creating a replica of the Sun. I was fortunate enough to visit the Sunsphere during their "free local days" and all you need to show is your license to prove you're local to Knoxville. More free local days will be announced throughout the coming year, so stay tuned. Definitely recommend elevating your view of our little city by visiting the Sunsphere. Know Before You Go: ~ $10 tickets per adult and also annual passes can be bought in person. $40 for an individual annual pass or $120 for a family pass. Both passes are good for a calendar year. ~24 kt. gold panels are actually glass layered with gold dust. ~The Sunsphere observation deck was re-opened on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains, World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the UT Campus. ~There is a small gift shop offering everything from Sunsphere Christmas ornaments, tee shirts, Sunsphere coffee tumblers, stickers, postcards, and more. read more

See all

Very friendly and helpful people working at the sunsphere. They recommended that we also go check out the Art Museum which was a quick walk and totally worth it! The views of Knoxville were fantastic. The only bummer was that I read somewhere online that kids were free but they actually do charge $5 for kids admission. read more

Sunsphere - sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Sunsphere is a must if you are visiting Knoxville! I'm going with 4 stars only because it was such a quick walkthrough for us, but I would definitely recommend checking it out. Very cool to learn about the history of the Sunsphere and to enjoy the views from up high! Tickets are cheap and it killed a little time in town to do something different so we had no issues. It may be a little hard to get to for some if you aren't mobile, but we didn't mind doing the walk from our airbnb into town and to get to the spot. We got our tickets online and it was all easy overall! read more

See all

The Sunsphere is one of the primary highlights in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. It has a golden shaped dome to it and stands out as a city focal point. It's $5 entrance fee to take an elevator trip to the top for 360 panoramic views overlooking Knoxville. The scenery from high above is nice, but nothing dramatic. There's an attendant escorting visitors up and down the elevator. They actually sell a few souvenirs at the top. I bought a keychain and postcard (from the limited offerings), but it was good enough as I couldn't find small keepsakes anywhere around Knoxville. There's a description about the history from the 1982 World's Fair, which the city hosted. Knoxville is also home to the University of Tennessee which the Sunsphere provides some detail into one of the most recognizable colleges in the country. Next to the Sunsphere is the World's Fair Park, a pleasant walking area to be outdoors. There's the Knoxville Convention Center located here, as well as an amphitheater. This entire section of Knoxville gives the city its vibrancy, from my pov. It doesn't take long to check out the Sunsphere, maybe 30 minutes at the most, but when you include it with exploring the other landmarks around downtown, you get to spend a portion of the day enjoying Knoxville, TN. read more

See all

Visit: October 2024 AN ICONIC KNOXVILL SITE We were spending an unexpected day in Knoxville and it seemed like there wasn't much else to do, so we decided to go up the 'Sunsphere', which was erected for the 1982 World's Fair. AVERAGE EXPERIENCE AND VIEWS We have been up several towers around the world and by comparison, the Sunshpere was very average. To be fair, it was under construction, so perhaps in the future it will improve. (Although, the views will remain the same!) CHECK THEIR HOURS First of all, we discovered the sphere was not open between 1:30pm and 2:30pm, (except Sundays when it is open noon-4pm) so make sure to plan around that. Check their web site for hours/holidays. PAY ON-LINE There was a sign outside the elevator that offered a QR code in order to buy tickets on your phone. This was the only way to purchase tickets -- no wasting funds on a manned booth! OBSERVATION DECK At your assigned time, a staff member appears and takes you up in the elevator to the observation deck on the fourth floor. (The elevator ride isn't very long!) You are told the observation deck is self-guided and that you have 30 minutes. There are a few info boards, a gift shop area, wall art and some fairly uninteresting views through hazy glass. (It has a gold hue/tint that gives it a strange effect). You can also take a 'postcard' photo and e-mail it to yourself, which is kind of fun. PARKING & MORE Immediately around the Sunsphere is the Knoxville convention center, an outdoor amphitheater, Knoxville Art Museum, hotels, and free parking on Worlds Fair Park Dr. Helpful? read more

See all

A must if you're in Knoxville. Fun to learn about the world fair. Lots of facts. Great views to base myself in the city day 1. Friendly staff. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

His was a fun introduction to Knoxville. You order tickets online. Kids are free and adults are 5 dollars. The views are beautiful. There is also a lot more f info about the city. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

A cool landmark that was built for the 1982 World's Fair here in Knox. The Sunsphere never fails to get my kids hyped every time they see it. "Golf ball," "Golden disco ball," "Shiny tall ball..." whatever name they come up with for the day, it is adored from near and far. Speaking of near, we went to an event the other day at the Knoxville Convention Center and World's Fair Park/Sunsphere are directly outside, allowing for photo ops galore. Due to COVID, they currently aren't allowing people to go up to the viewing deck, but once they do, we are hopping on an elevator STAT. Can't believe it is a free viewing experience. And did you know they rent office space up in the domed area? So cool. read more

See all

We did it, but kind of disappointed. Would be a great visitor center but staff were not trained to do so. Somewhat minimum artifacts from Fair. Only 4th of 8 floors. Mostly advertising. A movie would have been good. read more

Sunsphere Tower is a beautiful place to visit, whether you're a newcomer to Knoxville or a 20 year veteran.   Tip: The Tower was built for the 1982 World's Fair.  I'm told that at one time going up to the top of Sunsphere was free, but today it costs $5 for people 13 and older. Sunsphere is downtown, and offers a 360-degree view of the original 1982 World's Fair site (now World's Fair Park).    The tower is surrounded by lovely parks, and there's lots of parking close at hand.  It's also relatively close to downtown shopping, and easy to get to from the highway. While coming here won't Rock your World, it's totally worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

See all

Built for the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, this was the centerpiece of the city. Noted for its unique design at the time, it is now a public park next to the city's convention center and the University of Tennessee campus. Two elevators run from street level to the observation deck (one was out of order today). 81 meters tall (266 feet or seven stories), there is also a restaurant at the top but I couldn't tell you the hours or services. It is completely FREE to visit and the view from the observation deck is pretty good. We were there on a clear day, so that was really nice. [Round number review 12900 overall, 216 of 2020.] read more

See all

Pretty underwhelming from the outside. But then, I spent a good chunk of my life living by the Space Needle in Seattle! We made the "short" walk from our hotel in the sun and heat, and hung out at the worlds fair park, trying to cool off in the shade while we waited for the Sunsphere to open back up. They close for a lunch break. Well, they never opened back up. So we never got to check out the inside, or the views from it. From the main entrance, it looks like part of it is used for business offices, and one of the floors is for tourists. I should mention, I have physical limitations, and getting to and from this place really took it out of me because it is in an area that really isn't set up for people with limited mobilities and disabilities. Stairs, hills, etc. And then to go through all that, just for them not to be open. Not cool. read more

This was a neat thing to see that I'm sure I would've given five stars if we were allowed to go up to the top however with Covid it has shut it now and they wouldn't let us go up top it was still a cool thing to see and has a lot of history that I've read up on so it's a good photo up in visual when you're in Knoxville read more

See all

Really neat piece of history! It's only a few dollars to see some really cool views. We enjoyed our visit and would go back. read more

See all

This neat tower is located at worlds fair park. It seemed taller the closer I walked to it. At the base is a elevator you can take to the top, or you can take the stairs if you are feeling really ambitious. The observation deck is enclosed and offers a spectacular view of downtown Knoxville! Although the lighting makes taking pictures a challenge, as does the glass. As you walk around there are round plaques that yield information so you can get to know the area better. It's free to enter. There are restrooms in the park area as well. read more

See all

Posted hours as open July 6. 14 of us waiting on the river level for over an hour. Another group of 8 people, many in wheelchairs waited on the street level. One party even purchased tickets on line It would take 20 seconds to put a message on your phone read more

There was no handicap parking and the available lot is half a mile away. You have to either take a hill or cross road and railroad tracks. Either way is no breeze in the park if you have limitations. Once you arrive everything is accessible. This needs to be fixed. There are a handful of spaces that can serve citizens near the sunsphere. The view was spectacular and the guides were very kind. read more

Free! What more needs to be said? Good views of Knoxville's four corners, and absolutely free. Free parking, and a free stroll through the beautiful, world famous World's Fair Park. This is an iconic structure of Knoxville, and there's nothing like it in the world. This one of a kind structure is a must see. For the price, it can't be beat! FREE! read more

See all

I love the Sunsphere! A fun place to stop if you're in Knoxville or even just passing through. Parking is pretty easy to find nearby. The park is beautiful and nice to walk around. The actual Sunsphere is very cool. Nice views of Knoxville. We were able to bring our dog up with us in the elevator which was pretty cool too. Definitely worth a stop. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

The cornerstone of the 1982 World's Fair, the Sunsphere provides 360-degree scenic views of Knoxville and the surrounding areas. THE GOOD: There's no charge to take the elevator to the observation deck. There are various "stations" with description plaques as you walk around. It's located in the heart of the World's Fair park and within walking distance to many other attractions (Knoxville Museum of Art, Convention Center, downtown shops and restaurants). THE BAD: I feel that this attraction could use an interior facelift. To me, the observation deck felt a little dark and dingy. Only one of the two elevators was operational. SUMMARY: Even without the facelift, I would still recommend this local attraction to everyone. read more

An iconic and recognizable part of Knoxville's skyline, the Sunsphere is a nice free attraction located just a quick walk from the heart of downtown! We parked in a free garage and then used the pedestrian bridge from Market Square - it was a pretty direct walk straight to the Sunsphere. Plus, it's hard to miss! There is no cost to enter, which is cool since most places would take advantage of this sort of attraction to charge at least a few bucks. You can take the elevator up to the observation deck on the 4th floor, which is open to the public. As you walk around the sphere, you can take in the city views and also learn some fun facts about the structure and Knoxville itself from the provided infographics. Covering the whole perimeter of the observation deck took no time at all - don't expect to spend a while here! The views were decent, although due to the shape of the tower, the windows were a bit far away from where we stood and made it difficult to get a good picture from inside. The signs situated along the walls also seemed a bit dated. Overall, it's not bad for a free visit, but unless you are in downtown Knoxville already, I wouldn't come out of my way to go here. It's located in World's Fair Park which includes the Knoxville Convention Center and Knoxville Museum of Art as well, so you could do some further exploring if desired. It's a good way to kill a bit of time and learn about some history if you happen to be passing through the city! read more

Sunsphere - Did you know? - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

A neat, little landmark kind of in the heart of Knoxville. You take an elevator up to the top & from there, you're able to see a 360 view of Knoxville. The glass is kind of foggy (but the AC feels great up there). You can see everything from the river, to the green trees miles away, to the children playing in the water fountains. This attraction for sight-seeing is free. Press the 4th floor button! The their floors belong to business I believe. Once you're up, it really is cool! Don't forget to read the facts along the walls & on the little stands. read more

I loved this gorgeous view of Knoxville while enjoying some neat history! If you're like me, your little retro heart will be over the moon with the bonus of music from 1982 playing while you take the view in. I almost didn't want to leave! read more

See all

A nice feature to downtown Knoxville. It is no charge to take the elevator up to the 4th floor observatory level that offers a 360 degree view of Knoxville in an air conditioned setting. There are fun local facts posted from the elevator to the top. The glass isn't 100% clear, but the views of town and mountains in the distance are still amazing. read more

See all

While on our Urban Hiking day in Knoxville...we had to go to the Sunsphere...anyone and EVERYONE visiting Knoxville needs to check out this FREE attraction. Information about it: The Sunsphere, in Knoxville, Tennessee, is an 81.07 m (266 ft) high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 23 m (75 ft) gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair INformation on who built it: Designed by the Knoxville architectural firm Community Tectonics, the Sunsphere was created as the theme structure for the 1982 World's Fair. It was noted for its unique design in several engineering publications. The World's Fair site later became a public park alongside Knoxville's official convention center and adjacent to the University of Tennessee's main campus. The Sunsphere remains standing directly across a man-made pond from a vacant outdoor stage. Entering the Sunsphere was illegal for several years. In its original design, the sphere portion was to have had a diameter of 86.5 feet (26.4 m) to represent symbolically the 865,000-mile (1,392,000 km) diameter sun. The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes. It weighs 600 tons and features six double steel truss columns in supporting the seven-story sphere.[1] The tower has a volume of 203,689 cubic feet (5,767.8 m3) and a surface of 16,742 square feet (1,555.4 m2). IT used to cost $2 during the Fair to go to the top but now it is FREE...Although the Sunsphere is the most recognized feature of the Knoxville cityscape, it has remained vacant or underutilized for most of its post-fair life. Various proposals have been submitted to the city from time to time for its redevelopment. Many argue its relevancy as a tall structure, because it was built in one of the lowest parts of the city. IF you go to Knoxville, park in the parking garage near by, walk across the pedi bridge crossing the highway intersection near the Convention Center and take the elevator up into the SunSphere..YOU WILL be HAPPY you did...and IT's FREE...check it OUT... also side note....City Parking Buildings in Knoxville are FREE on Saturday and Sundays ALL DAY... read more

See all

Free! Need I say more? The Sunsphere is a beautiful gold disco ball on the outside and observation deck on the inside, among other things. You'll find this trophy of an attraction at the World's Fair Park. We parked on the street at a meter. We were there on President's Day and it was empty. Jusssst the way I like it!!! Get to the elevator and it is conveniently labeled that level four is the observation deck. Heck, it's even ON THE ELEVATOR DOORS, lol. L3 is the street level, L4 the observation deck, and what's interesting is that it goes to L8 which tells you, there's more. For us however, L4 was as high as we were privileged to go. Up you go and it's a beautiful 360 ceiling to floor glass view. However, the windows are soooooo dirty. I don't know what the cleaning schedule is like, but perhaps winter = no cleaning. Understandable due to the weather and off season. There's a painted Knoxville mural on one of the walls as well. You have the view of downtown, the amphitheater, the bridge, the water, the field, etc. Great for kids and adults. Easy attraction to do in less than thirty minutes. read more

See all

it's a cool building and it adds to the skyline of Knoxville but it's pretty underwhelming. You can only go to the 4th floor of 8 floors. It's only $5 a person so it may be worth it but you're also not missing out on much if you don't do it! read more

Cool place to visit if you're in the area. The view is nice. The girls who were up there gave us information and pointed cool things about Knoxville. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

First time in Knoxville and we wanted to see something the city is known for. There was a ton of available parking in the nearby garages. We went on a Sunday and the parking was free. The sunsphere was close by and a very easy walk. Upon arrival to the Sunsphere, you could also walk around the park and see the water. The views from inside the sphere were beautiful. I would recommend, especially for a free attraction. We enjoyed it. read more

Go check out Knoxville's disco ball! That's what I like to call the Sunsphere. It's a FREE activity the whole family would enjoy. You can take the elevator to the top, there's glass all around and you get a full view of the city. Great for pictures. read more

I recently attended a company event at the Sunsphere. This was the second event that I have attended there and I expected things to go well. The party was scheduled to end at 10pm. Everything was going well. Around the last hour of the event we noticed that our host was nowhere to be found, as well as a few other guests. Close to the end time of the event they returned. They had been stuck on the elevator for over 30 minutes!!! They had gone downstairs to get fresh air, the UP button did not work then when a couple of guests left they were able to get on the elevator. Well the UP button inside of the elevator did not work, as well as the OPEN DOOR button, causing them to be stuck on the elevator for over 30 minutes!!! They were only brought back up to our floor when myself and a couple of others hit the DOWN button to leave. When management was approached our host was told that the elevator stops bringing ppl up at 9:30pm, in a purely uncaring or unconcerned manner. Let me remind you that they were STUCK ON the elevator for OVER 30 MINUTES. Our host explained that it would have been nice if they could have made that clear to everyone at the event (especially since the event was not scheduled to end until 10pm). Management made it seem like it was not their problem because it was written somewhere in the contract. We explained how that did not make sense because all of the guests do not read the contract. Management got very abrasive and some of us continued down to the street level to wait on our Übers. One of the guests said that they heard management threaten to call the cops and none of us could understand why that would even be an option or necessary because nothing happened to warrant a cop being called, and a minute later a cop shows up, WTH?!?! He could not even get upstairs because of the elevator and could not get in contact with the manager and became agitated because he felt like the call was a waste of his time. I asked him what was said, why was he called, I told him that nothing happened to warrant a police officer. He said the the caller said the there was a group of drunk/unruly people in public, which he concluded was not the case... to top this all off the manager tried to kick our host and hostess out without giving them back any of their alcohol/belongings. The manager said that he had the right to put a 24 hour hold on their alcohol, etc. Totally not legal and did not end up happening. Ultimately, I was very disappointed in the customer service that the hostess, the host, and some of the other guests received from their management. The pure lack of concern or care was just shocking, and then to just call the cops instead of using your management skills to manage your mistake or to simply apologize for an inconvenience is beyond me. I would not recommend using this event space due to the unprofessionalism and lack of customer service of their management. Also, I will update this post if this situation is rectified. read more

This is a nice free historical stop to visit if you are in Knoxville. You can locate free parking nearby and go up into the globe to see all the surroundings in about 15 minutes. To get up into the globe, there are two elevators that will take you up. Beware there are no public restrooms inside, so plan accordingly. read more

You cannot come to Knoxville without visiting the iconic Sunsphere. The Worlds Fair Park is beautiful and there's so much to see/do/eat within walking distance. Everything from the shady pavilions to the water features and walking paths keeps me coming back for more. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville's most distinctive landmark is also one of its oddest. A leftover from the 1982 World's Fair, I think it's supposed to symbolize the sun? Basically it's a large golden ball, several stories high, on a tall pedestal downtown. I think you can take the elevator up to the top. Has the distinct honor of appearing in an episode of the Simpsons. From Wikipedia: "In its original design, the sphere portion was to have had a diameter of 86.5 feet to represent symbolically the 865,000-mile diameter sun. The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes. It weighs 600 tons and features six double steel truss columns in supporting the seven-story sphere. The tower has a volume of 203,689 cubic feet and a surface of 16,742 square feet." read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Coming from Berlin, seeing a giant gold-colored disco ball in the Knoxville skyline felt a lot like home. That said, the Sunsphere is not the most amazing thing ever, but it's still kind of cool. Take an elevator to the third floor and overlook the grounds of the 1982 World Fair below, and the city beyond that. The windows are kind of dirty and the display feels dated, but it's free. read more

The Sunsphere is a beautifully stunning landmark located in downtown Knoxville next to the convention center. The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World's Fair and during that time, it served as the symbol to the Fair. It was also home to a full service restaurant and the Observation Deck. The Sunsphere is open to the public and despite what the animated Fox television program "The Simpson's" would have you believe it is not filled with wigs. Visit the Sunsphere for a brief history of Knoxville and a breath taking view of the University of Tennessee's campus and World's Fair Park. read more

Sunsphere - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

An icon of the 1982 World's Fair, the Sunsphere is an amazing place to see all of the downtown Knoxville. If you're afraid of heights, just remember the floor is right beneath your feet! The Sunsphere is located right at the edge of downtown, so it's pretty easy to get to. Of course, an elevator takes you up to the Observation Deck where you can walk around the entire perimeter and enjoy views of the city. This is really a stunning view day or night, so try one of each. TIP: If you're legitimately afraid of heights, here are a few things to keep in mind: the Sunsphere is rock solid and does not sway in the wind at all, the Observation Deck is is a ring around the edge, but it's about 6' wide so you can stay next to the wall if you don't want to get near the edge, and the elevator is solid. read more

Sunsphere - View from the Observation Deck inside the Sunsphere. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville's own little piece of iconic skyline flair. It sits perched tall and strong amid World's Fair Park and is one of the easiest Knox photo ops, in my opinion. I encourage anyone visiting to go up to the observation deck at least once. It offers an incredible view of the city, and make for a quick mini history lesson of Knoxville with the interactive stands and mural installations. While the elevator can be a bit sketchy at times, the site is kept clean and secure. I recommend checking the operation hours before visiting, as sometimes it will be closed due to maintenance or cleaning. read more

See all