ORNL FCU 75 Years

1982 WORLD’S FAIR

The 1982 World’s Fair, officially known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition (KIEE) and simply as Energy Expo ’82 or Expo ’82, was an international exposition that focused on energy and electricity generation, using the theme Energy

Turns the World. Twenty-three nations participated in Expo ’82, which attracted over eleven million visitors. Opening day drew several celebrities and dignitaries, and President Ronald Reagan officially opened the fair. The fairgrounds were constructed on the abandoned seventy-acre Louisville and Nashville Railroad Yard, located between downtown Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus, which was completely renovated. The existing rail station and foundry were also renovated to hold restaurant spaces, offices for fair officials, and VIP rooms. The Sunsphere, which was the icon for the fair, was constructed in 1981 and stands 266 feet high and twenty-six stories tall. The gold globe itself is five stories tall and each pane of glass is made with twenty-four karat gold dust. Elevator rides (costing $2 per person) to the fourth-floor observation deck offered a 360-degree view of Knoxville. The Sunsphere and the Amphitheater are the only two remaining original structures built for the fair. Skepticism about Knoxville’s ability to successfully host the World’s Fair was publicized in the Wall Street Journal with Knoxville described as a “scruffy little city.” When the fair turned out to be a success, officials created commemorative buttons that stated, “The Scruffy Little City Did It.” (Visit Knoxville)

The World’s Fair Park is home to the original grounds of Expo ’82, as well as the Knoxville Convention Center and the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.

38 | 75 YEARS ORNL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION