Sunsphere, Observation tower in World's Fair Park, Knoxville, US
The Sunsphere is an 81‑meter observation tower made of steel and glass with a golden sphere at the top, located in World's Fair Park in Knoxville. The viewing platform on the fourth level inside the sphere offers open views of downtown and the wooded hills nearby.
The structure was built in 1982 as the centerpiece of the World's Fair, showcasing technology and the renewal of the city during the late seventies and early eighties. After the fair closed, the tower remained and was reopened to the public in the nineties.
The tower takes its name from the golden glass sphere at its top, which catches the sunlight and has become a symbol of Knoxville. Inside the observation area, visitors find displays about the city's growth and the changes the region experienced during the late twentieth century.
The observation platform is reached by three elevators that start at the base of the tower and rise directly to the glass sphere. Visit Knoxville's official tourism site provides details on opening times and entry, while the park around the structure remains freely accessible.
The golden sphere contains several levels, one of which has occasionally served as an event space for private gatherings. At night, floodlights illuminate the surface of the sphere and transform it into a glowing beacon visible across the city.
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