Appalachian Exposition

Bandstand built for the Appalachian Exposition in 1910

The Appalachian Exposition, also known as the Appalachian Exhibition, was an event held in 1910 and 1911 in Knoxville, Tennessee's on property (now Chilhowee Park) owned by Knoxville Railway and Light.[1] The park grounds were 65 acres and included two lakes.[2] The exhibitions demonstrated progress in Southern industry.[3] Former president Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the 1910 exposition, and president William Howard Taft spoke in 1911.[4]

The expositions featured a large exhibit hall designed by architect John R. Graf,[5] a Tennessee marble bandstand designed by architect R. F. Graf, and a building constructed by Knoxville College students to exhibit the city's African American history.[4] The expositions saw the first airplane and zeppelin flights in East Tennessee,[4] and helped boost the careers of local artists Lloyd Branson and Catherine Wiley.[6][7]

  1. ^ Amy McRary (September 24, 2016). "Knoxville's 225th: Appalachian Exposition drew crowds to Chilhowee Park in 1910". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  2. ^ ""Nashville Day" Thursday at Appalachian Exhibition". Nashville Tennessean. 25 September 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ Robert Lukens (2009). "Appalachian Exposition of 1910". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  4. ^ a b c Brewer, Becky French; McDaniel, Douglas Stuart (2005). Park City. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 7, 31–32, 40–51.
  5. ^ Lucile Deaderick, ed. (1976). Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society. pp. 47–50.
  6. ^ Hoobler, James (2009). "Lloyd Branson". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  7. ^ Elizabeth Moore (2009). "Anna Catherine Wiley". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved 2013-02-09.