Fifth Annual East Tennessee History Fair
presented by the East Tennessee Historical Society
From the Cherokee to the Present – Celebrating Our Region’s History
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, August 18, 2012
East Tennessee History Center, Krutch Park,
and various downtown locations
Music ~ Historic Crafts ~ Historical Characters ~ Vintage Films ~ Historic Home Tours ~ Graveyard & Museum Tours ~ Authors ~ Living History ~ Davy Crockett’s Birthday
For Schedule of Events & Times, see below:
"History Hound" Dog Costume Contest
9:30 a.m. Registration, Krutch Park
10:15 a.m. Judging
Bring your canine companion in his best historic costume to have him crowned History Hound! Local celebrities Alison, of WIVK’s Andy and Alison in the Morning Crew, Dr. Dan Feller from UT History Department, and John Becker from WBIR Channel 10’s News Team will be judging your pet for “Most East Tennessee Spirit” and “Best Historic Costume.” Registration begins at 9:30 am in Krutch Park in downtown Knoxville. The contest begins at 10:15 am. Prizes provided by PetSafe.
Free Admission to Museum of East Tennessee History
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Exhibits include the East Tennessee Streetscape, Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee and the feature exhibition East Tennessee Art & Artists: Selections from the East Tennessee History Center.
Living History Timeline
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
History is around every corner of Krutch Park with the “Living History Timeline, 1755-1945.” From the Cherokee to the Revolution to the War of 1812 to the Civil War, World War I and World War II, period-dressed historians will be happy to share their special eras of history with the public.
Tours: 200th Birthday Celebration for Park House
11:00 a.m.-3 p.m.
Visitors will have a rare opportunity to tour this historic house whose foundation was constructed in the 1790s as the intended home of Governor John Sevier. Now the headquarters for Gulf and Ohio Railways, the house has a rich and interesting history from a residence for James Park to a Red Cross workshop in WWI and the Knoxville Academy of Medicine. Guests will enjoy guided tours, historic characters, and cookies and lemonade. Park House, 422 W. Cumberland Ave.
WDVX and Clayton Country Music Stage
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy live music in Krutch Park.
11:00 a.m. Father and daughter, Tom McCarroll and
Tammy McCarroll Burroughs, play and sing
old-time music
11:20 a.m. Knoxville Chamber Chorale with composer John
Purifoy
Noon Grassroots Gringos
1 p.m. David West and the Cider Mountain
Boys and special guest acts
2 p.m. Tribute to Roy Acuff
Music and memories by friend and
fellow musician Russ Jeffers
2:30 p.m. Snowbird Cherokee Indian Choir
3:00 p.m. Tony Thomas, Local Storyteller and Musician
3:45 p.m. Russ & Becky Jeffers
4:15 p.m. The Old City Buskers
East Tennessee Film Festival—featuring Vintage Films
Presented by Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS) at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street (2 blocks south of History Center)
12:00-1:00 p.m. The Lost Films of Walther Barth, 1929-1943
1:15-2 p.m. Picturing the Smokies: Vintage Views of the Great Smoky Mountains, 1920-1960s
2:30-4:00 p.m. This is Cas Walker!
Bill Landry Book Signing, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures
11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Krutch Park
Landry will autograph copies of new book, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures,” a delightful read covering everything from moonshining to the natural beauty of the Smokies. Books available for purchase.
War of 1812 Lecture
11:30 a.m.-Noon
Myers Brown, curator of extension services for the Tennessee State Museum, will discuss his War of 1812 uniform and the role of the regular militia in the conflict.
Historic Craft Demonstrations
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy blacksmithing by Mike Rose, raku pottery demonstrations from Peter Rose, heirloom seed demonstrations from John Coykendall, spinning demonstrationsby Dale Liles, mountain berry baskets from Bill Alexander, cornhusk dolls by Anne Freels, weaving by Stella Lamon, and woodworking by Jim McAnally and Proffitt’s Woodworking from Gatlinburg.
History, Genealogy, and Preservation Groups
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Learn about your family and local history by visiting with historical, genealogical, historic sites and museums, and other groups from across our 35-county region. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide literature about what makes East Tennessee history so special.
Friends of the Library Book Sale
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Everyone loves a book sale! The books will include Civil War and other history-themed topics, plus a collection of WWII and American history. Books for children will be $1 or less and books for adults will be $2 and up.
Children’s Activities
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Children are invited to experience the past through games and crafts. Among crafts to make will be dolls, old-fashioned cup and ball toys, bead necklaces, and paper items. Other activities will include storytelling and Davy Crockett’s Birthday Party.
Historic Homes Bus Tours
11:00 a.m.-3 p.m. (depart from Krutch Park, Gay Street)
Between the hours of 11:00-3:00, you can board the bus at the corner of Gay and Clinch and ride to open houses at the James Park House, Blount Mansion, James Whites Fort, Mabry Hazen House, and Bethel Cemetery and Museum.
Civil War Bus and Walking Tours
(Civil War Gateway Center, corner of Gay Street and Hill Ave.)
Bus Tours: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on the hour
Walking Tours: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. every hour on the half hour
This recently created addition to the downtown experience will be open for History Day offering a broad range of information resources revealing our community’s traumatic past. Docents, some in period costume, will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about Civil War research, venues, events and hidden relics in our area.
At the top of the hour from 11 am to 3 pm, a tour bus will leave from Hill Avenue with local Civil War experts as guides to explore the Civil War geography that is so much an invisible part of present day Knoxville. Beginning at 10:30, walking tours will leave hourly from the corner of Gay and Hill for a one-hour excursion into the Civil War places of the past. Space on the tours will be limited—first come, first served.
Walking Tours of Downtown
10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. (depart from the Steps of the East Tennessee History Center)
Laura Still of Knoxville Walking Tours will share tales and tall stories as she leads guided walks of historic Knoxville. Approximate tour length is 30-45 minutes.
Mast General Store
11:00 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet the Author & Book Signing
Allen Coggins, author of Tennessee Tragedies: Natural Technological, and Societal Disasters in the Volunteer State.
1:00 p.m.-3 p.m. How to Get Started on Your Family Tree
Genealogist Ann Blomquist will be available to advise on how to get started tracing your family tree and other questions about genealogy research.
Davy Crockett’s Birthday Party
2 p.m. “Friend of Davy” Storytelling
3 p.m. Birthday cake with Davy Crockett
It’s the 226th birthday for famous Tennessee frontiersman Davy Corckett! Put on your best bonnet and coonskin cap to hear friend of Davy, Jim Claborn, tell entertaining stories about the “King of the Wild Frontier.” Cake and lemonade will complete the celebration. Fun for both children and adults. Birthday cake and lemonade is presented by Food City.
World's Fair 30th Celebration
10 a.m.-5 p.m.