This month of exploring has been one I have not been looking forward to. There was so much to look for in one area and that fact that the area is so populated I just had to do it. However, it was really enjoyable. The movie that I watched for this month was also enjoyable.
All of the kingdom is invited to celebrate the birth of the child of their king and queen. However, one person was left off of the guest list, Maleficent. She places a curse on the new born princess that she will die on her 16th birthday. However, the good fairies are there to help. They can't stop the curse but they can stop her from dying. If she does prick her finger on her 16th birthday the princess will only be asleep until true loves kiss wakes her up. In an effort to still keep her safe from the witch, the fairies take her to live with them until she is 16. Is this enough to keep her safe?
Mary Costa was born in April of 1930 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She went to Knoxville High School, and her family relocated to California when was still in high school. She went to many performing arts schools, and she has always been involved with opera. She sang with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in a few specials, and she was on several radio shows from 1948-1951. In 1952, She went to a party and met some people who got her to audition for the role of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. She did so well the Walt Disney himself called her and told her she got the part within hours of doing the audition. She would go on to do Operas, shows movies, and even worked with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.. When she was 70 she retired and would continue to get awards and make appearances and reply to fan mail. When she was 86 she said that she could not longer reply to the fan mail in person but would still meet people and sign autographs. She still around and still lives in Knoxville at the age of 92.
I have no gotten the pleasure of meeting her, I would love to, but I have not been able to. However, one of the best gifts I ever got was on my 19th birthday I got a signed Lithograph from her.
My friends step dad was actually doing some work on her house years ago and told my friend about who she was. He someone convinced his step dad to ask for an autograph from her and this is the gift. I have had it hanging on my wall ever since. Disney princess has always been something that I loved growing up so finding out that one of them is born, and still lives, in Knoxville, and I have an autograph, is something that I will never be able to get over.
So, where is the world did I go in Knoxville that I was dreading?
The University of Tennessee Campus.
I always hate driving through campus. I have no idea where anything is. There is always so many people, and I really didn't want to walk around looking like a goofball not knowing where I was going in front of so many people. I am so used to people always being down there but I forgot that summer break is a thing. Not a whole lot of people there during the summer, and not on a Sunday either. So, I had a wonderful walk with no one really on the campus but me. I had a much more wonderful time than I thought that I would.
There is a lot of ground to cover to let's get started.
The Hill
UT's original campus was actually where The Tennessee Theatre is now. It started out as Blount College in 1794. However, it was moved, and renamed, around the 1820s to The Hill. The whole campus used to only be on the hill, and daunting to go up (Trust me). There are over 200 steps to get from the bottom to the top. The 1928 Alma Mater reverences the hill in it's song. When they broke ground to start building for the campus they found that a forgotten cemetery was there. The original building that stood of top of the hill saw some battle in the Civil War and the building was scarred with bullets and cannons. However, after the war that campus was a wreck. Years later the President of UT wanted the places to finally be straightened up. Students were called to get shovels and fill in the trenches and in 1919 the Old College building was demolished.
Ayres Hall
Ayres Hall was the building that replaced the Old College Building in 1921. It's named after UT President Brown Ayers, and physics and engineering scholar. The hall got a small bit of Hollywood frame when it was in the back of one of the shots in the Ingrid Bergman film A Walk in the Spring Rain.
South College
This building, used as dorms nowadays, is the oldest building on the campus. It was built in 1871, and it has earthquake bolts in it's design. It's the only building of UT campus in it's first 75 years.
Austin Peay
This building was originally a library in 1911, but in the 30s was turned into office buildings. In the 70s and crazy incident happened when administrators were caught inside the building. There was a new President coming in, Boling was the last name, and Mr. Kami did not like the the students had no say and called for a protest. Kami called for Hand to Hand combat with Mr. Bolding, and when this did not happen they threated to go into the building. The police were called and 22 people were arrested. Kami eventually skipped bong and fled the county. According to the the book I am working with on this project, his fate is unknown. According to the UT website, he was last heard from in 1990 and was doing charitable in London but that is the last we have heard from him.
Alumni Memorial Hall
This building has a lot going inside it's walls. It was originally built to be a gymnasium. However, UT really wanted to get people who were in school to come and enjoy the campus, this hall because a place of entertainment right from the start. It was a dance hall fro anyone to come and see great performers, one of them being Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra! The Men's basketball team originally started playing here but got popular and could not longer fit here. Women's basketball wasn't as popular, yet. Coach Pat Summitt, the winningest college basketball coach in history, had her very first wins of her career in this building.
Hoskins Library
It was once the mainly library for the campus. Today it holds many historical references. It the headquarters for many project like the Andrew Jackson Papers.
Circle Park and the Volunteer Statue
Circle Park is lovely little greenway that was created to also have people not in school come and enjoy the campus. It's more than likely Knoxville first public park.
The volunteer statue, or the torchbearer, was installed here in 1968 and the flame and almost always been burning since.
McClung Museum
Near Circle Park , The McClung Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate that has a range of different exhibits. Coving a lot of different subjects. One of the permanent collections talking about Knoxville during the Civil War.
Neyland Stadium and Neyland Statue
One of the 5 largest football college stadiums in the country, Neyland has seen it's fair share of history. Named after General Robert Neyland. Neyland was the UT coach for 9 season and five of those season the team was undefeated. The stadium was named after him weeks before he passed away in 1962. General Neyland is laid to rest in the Nation Cemetery in Downtown Knoxville. The stadium hasn't had many people come in, beside football players. In 1970 Bill Graham was here for a crusade, that also brought President Nixon along with him. The other one to mention is that in 1984 The Jacksons (Michael Jackson and family) performed here for three nights as well. The stadium was also one of the sets for the movie The Last Movie Star was filmed here in Knoxville in 2018.
If you look very close you can see the statue of Gen. Neyland inside the gate. The statue was placed there in 2010.
Thompson Boling Arena and Pat Summitt Statue
This building has hosted many a concert that this girl has been do. However, the real reason that this place is so famous is because this is where Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols got moved to for Basketball games!
The Pat Summitt Statue was placed here in 2013, after her retirement in 2012. She is a legend of a Knoxvillian if there has ever been one. She was very well involved with Knoxville, and I have heard so many wonderful stories of this woman my whole life. I didn't really like basketball but I got to see one game of the Lady Vols while she was still and couch. I do also have an autograph of hers that mom got for me when she met her will she was at work. This lady is a real role model and I am glad that I got to share this city with her.
Art + Architecture Building
This building was labeled at Ugly when it was built in 1981. However, when you go inside it's supposed to be an interesting place inside. There is an art wing in the building the whole lots of local work as well.
Natalie Haslam Music Center
Known simply as "The Natalie" on campus, is the host of the UT Jazz Program. The building also hosts lots of recitals and and brought in musicians from all around.
Carousel Theatre
Clarence Brown Theater
Named after the UT Alum, and MGM Director, Clarence Brown, this theater has been entertaining for many years. Brown attended several shows here later in his life. The theater has been here since 1970, and other Knoxville actors have performed here as well such as David Keith and Dal Dickey.
McClung Plaza and Europa and the Bull Statue
The plaza is part of the Tower Complex and it's most notable feature is the Statue.
This statue was created in 1924.
Hodges Library
This building hold many historical documents that include Great Smoky Mountains Reginal Project and papers from Clarence Brown and local author James Agee.
Baker Center for Public Policy
This building has been used to lectures and exhibits for many years. Named for Howard Baker, where he kept an office later in life.
Tyson Alumni House
The former home to a Spanish-American and WWI vet, later turned US Sneator, Col Lawrence Davis Tyson, and his wife, Bettie. This building was a Victorian style home that was remodeled for other uses. The family donated the house, and a park in honor of their Son McGee. In exchange for the donation the new airport being built she wanted it named after her son.
Hopecote
This house launched the inspiration to many home designed after it won a nation award from House Beautiful magazine. It was designed by Franz Stubb, most famous for his Houston Mansion. The house was home to Albert and Emma Hope. Emma willed the house to UT in 1977 after her death and it's now used as a guest house for the university.
Morgan Hall
Morgan Hall is a companion piece to Ayers Hall on the main part of campus. The hall was named after Prof. Harcourt Morgan who was chosen by President Franklin Roosevelt to be one of the three directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
UT Gardens
UT Gardens was, and still is, an outdoor laboratory. It's been revamped so the public can enjoy it. It's hosted wedding and other events.
War Dog Memorial
This statue honors the military dogs that served during the war. It's a copy of the War Dog Cemetery in Guam. It's sits just outside the Student Vet Hospital on Campus and it's more than likely the only war dog memorial that is not associated with a military facility.
Indian Mound
The oldest structure on Campus was constructed in 7th Century. Believed to built by Woodland Indians it's believed that this is a burial mound.
It took several hours and 5 miles of waling to complete the task. I am still tired! However, it's one of the longest visits I had to take and I'm glad that I have it under my belt and I am excited to see what will be next.
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