A staple of the downtown Knoxville skyline, you can’t miss the shining, golden, geometric globe of the Sunsphere poking above the buildings. Once a symbol of the World’s Fair, it stands 26 stories tall and offers a view of our city you can’t get anywhere else. The best part? It’s finally back open to the public!
Open every day but Monday, you can get a ticket and ride on up to the 4th floor observation deck. There you’ll get a 360 degree view of The University of Tennessee to The Great Smoky Mountains and everything in-between. While you make your way around the golden globe you’ll learn your way through the 1982 World’s Fair and all the history it brought to Knoxville.
Tickets are $5 for ages 12 and up, while those under 12 are free with paid admission. You can purchase tickets here.
Sunsphere Quick Facts
- Each plane of glass is made with 24-karat gold
- It’s 266 feet tall!
- The sphere has a diameter of 74 feet
- The tower has 418 step fire stairs and three elevators.
- The Rubik’s cube also made its debut at the 1982 World’s Fair
- The Sunsphere was constructed specifically for the 1982 World’s Fair and joins the list of other notable World’s Fair structures, including the Eiffel Tower and the Seattle Space Needle.
- The 6th and 8th are available for event rentals. Can you say party?!
- Your ticket will serve for a 30 minute time slot. Be there on time!
After your visit to the Sunsphere make sure to check out everything else World’s Fair Park has to offer, including the water fountains, park, and playground. It’s a great place to spend a few hours with your family on a sunny day!
