The Grand Opening of the East Tennessee Historical Society's new signature exhibition, Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee, will be held August 22- 24, at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street.

The events will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 22.

The celebration continues August 23-24 with a History Street Fair at Krutch Park and free tours of the new museum exhibition at the History Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. The History Fair will feature entertainment by area historical societies and historic attractions, as well as exhibits, activities, games, and re-enactments. Area musicians will perform throughout the day on the Clayton Music Stage and downtown businesses, neighboring churches and the Knox County Public Library will offer a History Scavenger Hunt in downtown Knoxville. 

Downtown businesses are encouraged to decorate their shop windows from any period in East Tennessee history, encourage employees to wear historical dress during the week, or offer “historical” specials – perhaps the Admiral Farragut French Fries or the Davy Crockett Chicken.

The new $3 million, 8,500 square-foot permanent exhibition tells the story of more than three centuries oflife in the region and is the only exhibition to encompass the history of all 35 East Tennessee counties. For more information about the East Tennessee Historical Society, visit www.EastTNHistory.org.