Sunsphere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunsphere |
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| General information | |
| Type | Observation tower |
| Architectural style | Modernism, High-tech |
| Location | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°57′42″N 83°55′24″W / 35.9617°N 83.9232°W |
| Construction started | 1981 |
| Completed | 1982 |
| Opened | May 1, 1982 |
| Owner | City of Knoxville |
| Height | |
| Roof | 81.07 m (266.0 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Don Shell (et alii) |
| Structural engineer | Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates, Ltd. |
The Sunsphere is a famous building in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is located in World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. This tall structure is 266 feet high and has a cool gold-colored glass ball on top. This big golden ball was the main symbol of the 1982 World's Fair held in Knoxville. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only two buildings left from that fair.
Contents
What Does the Sunsphere Look Like?
The Sunsphere was designed by a company called Community Tectonics. It has a very special and unique design. The tower itself is made of strong steel and has six main columns. These columns support the big, round, seven-story sphere at the top.
The golden glass panels on the sphere are very special. They are covered with real 24-karat gold dust! These glass pieces are also cut into seven different shapes. The whole Sunsphere building weighs about 600 tons.
A Look Back at the Sunsphere's History
During the 1982 World's Fair, visitors could pay $2 to ride an elevator to the top. There was even a restaurant inside the sphere. It served fun foods like the "Sunburger" and a drink called the "Sunburst."
The Sunsphere quickly became a symbol for Knoxville. You could see it on postcards and in different company logos. For example, the Knoxville Smokies baseball team used the Sunsphere in their logo for several years. In 2002, the AAU Junior Olympics even had a mascot named Spherit that looked like the Sunsphere!
Reopening the Sunsphere for Visitors
Over the years, people thought about different ways to use the Sunsphere. There were ideas to turn it into office space or a new restaurant. However, these plans did not work out.
The city of Knoxville decided to reopen the observation deck on July 5, 2007. This allowed visitors to go up and see amazing views of Knoxville. The observation deck can hold 86 people at one time.
Later, the 5th floor of the Sunsphere became a cafe and a lounge. The 6th floor was used as a space that people could rent for events. Today, the 7th and 8th floors are also available for businesses to rent.
In 2020, the Sunsphere observation deck had to close because of the Covid-19 Pandemic. But it reopened on February 22, 2022! Now, visitors can once again enjoy a 360-degree view. You can see downtown Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains, World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. There is also a gift shop and a gallery about the 1982 World's Fair.
Admission to the observation deck costs $5 per person. Children under 12 years old can visit for free.
Images for kids
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The Sunsphere at night, with the Convention Center visible in the foreground
See also
In Spanish: Sunsphere para niños
