Discover Art & History in Downtown Knoxville
There are numerous museums and art galleries within historic Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee's 0.67 square-mile walkable district. Spend an afternoon exploring their unique offerings, grab a coffee, and get lost in The Maker City!
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Blount Mansion
Blount Mansion is considered the Birthplace of Tennessee. Circa-1792, Blount Mansion was home to U.S. Constitution signer William Blount, appointed by President George Washington to govern the Southwest Territory, which Blount shepherded into admission to the union as our nation’s sixteenth state. The Mansion was restored and opened for tours in 1930, and now, it's designated as one of only 30 National Historic Landmarks in the State of Tennessee and the only one in Knox County. Take a tour Wednesday-Sunday!
Knoxville Museum of Art
The Knoxville Museum of Art celebrates East Tennessee's rich and diverse visual culture and its connections to the wider currents of world art. It's home to one of the largest figurative glass-and-steel assemblages in the world, the "Cycle of Life," as well as newly-renovated exhibits. There's a lovely garden with outdoor sculptures, a water feature, and a great view of the Sunsphere. Best of all, a trip to KMA is free! Open Tuesday-Sunday.
Emporium Center
The Emporium is 28,000 square feet of flexible-use space for multiple art galleries showcasing local and regional artists. It's the place to begin First Friday ArtWalk where you'll find live music and a beautiful space to explore rotating exhibits. It's also home to Casa HoLa, featuring local Hispanic/Latinx photography, paintings, ceramics and popular art; Gallery 1010, a contemporary gallery managed by University of Tennessee art students; the Arts & Culture Alliance, supporting our community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions; and fifteen working artists studios. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Saturday and is free!
Curio at Maker Exchange
Immerse yourself in a truly, authentic celebration of local artists and makers at Maker Exchange, where just about every detail is sourced from Knoxville makers, from mugs at the coffee shop to the furniture you sit on to the fine art on display. And in the heart of Maker Exchange, you'll find The Curio—an immersive gallery space and shoppable display of Knoxville-made sculpture, jewelry, ceramics and more. Open seven days a week.
James White’s Fort
The Birthplace of Knoxville! In 1786, James White built a two-story log cabin—now James White's Fort—after he earned a land grant of 1,000 acres for his service in the Revolutionary War. Soon after, 100 settlers joined him for the start of modern-day Knoxville! More than 10,000 visitors tour the Fort each year and experience the frontier lifestyle through hands-on interpretation of Open Hearth Cooking, Blacksmithing and Spinning. Take a tour Monday-Saturday (closed Saturdays from December – March).
UT Downtown Gallery
The UT Downtown Gallery is a contemporary art gallery that's been a part of the downtown art scene since 2004. As the only public facing University of Tennessee professional arts organization in the community, the gallery presents thought-provoking, educational, and engaging art exhibitions. The gallery is free and open to the public Wednesday-Saturday. Stop by during First Friday ArtWalk each month as well!
Museum of East Tennessee History
With over 13,000 artifacts, the Museum of East Tennessee History does an incredible job showcasing East Tennessee’s history, heritage, and geography. The permanent exhibit, Voices of the Land, tells the story of the region's earliest people. Other fun pop-up exhibits have included a Mountain Dew Museum and You Should Have Been There World's Fair Exhibition. The museum, open seven days a week, is free on Sundays and always free for kids under 16.
Art Market Gallery
View and purchase the work of regional painters, photographers, weavers, printmakers, woodworkers, potters, jewelers, fiber and glass artists at the Art Market Gallery – a cooperative gallery of 60+ juried-in East Tennessee artists. The vibrant marketplace has been on Gay Street since 1982 and there's always something news. Visit Tuesday-Sunday and see what great things you can find!
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball, plus home to the world’s largest basketball weighing 10 tons with 96,000 pebbles! You can test your skills on three different courts, a dribbling course, and a passing skills area. There is also a photo area where you can pretend to be different players throughout history. Open Tuesday-Saturday. A great experience for basketball lovers of any age!
Dogwood Gallery
The Gallery at Dogwood Arts features monthly rotating exhibitions by local and regional artists. On the First Friday of each month, Dogwood Arts hosts an opening reception for a new exhibition as a part of Downtown Knoxville ArtWalk. But if you miss it, don't worry! You can stop in Monday-Friday to view the monthly exhibit. It's a colorful stop in the Old City!
Arrowmont Gallery
The Arrowmont Gallery is an exhibition space for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts expanding their physical presence to Downtown Knoxville. It offers rotating exhibitions featuring instructors, Artists-in-Residence, and other members of their creative community! The gallery hosts opening receptions during First Friday ArtWalk and is open to the public Friday-Sunday.
Art in Public Places
On a pretty day, don't miss Dogwood Arts' Art in Public Places Sculpture Program. The annually rotating, outdoor sculpture exhibition is on display year round in prominent locations within the downtown central business district and throughout Knoxville. More than 20 of this year's collection created by artists from across the country can be found in Krutch Park.
Looking for More?
Join us each month for Downtown Knoxville's First Friday ArtWalk. It's a celebration of our rich art scene with exhibitions and live music at galleries, studios, retail shops, and a variety of venues throughout the community!