The Visitor Center houses the nature center's staff offices, museum store, exhibit hall and collections and features large classrooms for on-site school and public programs. These rooms are also available for corporate rentals giving businesses a peaceful alternative for their group meetings.

From Interstate 40E Take Hall of Fame Dr. exit (389) and turn Left (South) onto Hall of Fame Dr.Turn Left on Hill Ave. (8th stop light)Turn Right onto 71S (James White Pkwy.)Merge Left onto James White Pkwy.Cross over the TN River and take the Sevier Ave./Hillwood Dr. exitTurn Left onto Sevier Ave. (turns into Hillwood Dr.)Turn Right onto Island Home Ave. (at bottom of hill)Ijams is approximately 1 mile on the LeftFrom Interstate 40W Take exit 388 (US-441 S) to Downtown (Henley St.)Continue on Henley St. crossing bridge over the TN RiverTurn Left onto E. Blount Ave. at first light after crossing bridgeTurn Right onto Sevier AvenueGo through 3 way stop and go down big hill (you are now on Hillwood Dr.)Turn Right on Island Home Ave at the bottom of hillIjams is approximately 1 mile on the Left

The mission of Knoxville Zoological Gardens is to celebrate the wonders of the natural world. Through education, conservation, exhibition, research and recreation, the zoo will tell the stories of the animals, the plants and the people who make up the communities of the earth. The zoo will develop positive attitudes and actions about nature and about conservation as a local and global issue.

Knoxville Zoo is open 364 days of the year, weather permitting. The only day Knoxville Zoo is closed is Christmas Day, Dec. 25.Next Day Free After 3- If you enter the zoo after 3 p.m., the next day's visit is free.Admission and ticket sales stop one hour before the zoo closes.

Located in Soutwest of Mountain City on Hwy 167 south, the Wagner-Worley Farm numbers among those rare Century Farms founded before Tennnesee achieved statehood in 1796. The farm was established on a land grant in 1790 near an area later to be known as Shoun's Crossroads by Col. David Wagner. As required of all Century Farms, this farm has been continuously owned and farmed by the same family for at least 100 years. In this case, it is a Century Farm twice over since it was established six years before Tennessee's list of Pioneer Farms when this status was established in August of 2008. The quilt is mounted on a tobacco barn which was rebuilt in the 1980's after a tornado or straight line winds swept through the valley and flattened the original one.

The quilt square is patterned after an heirloom quilt passed down through the Wagner family. This quilt pattern was published in the Kansas City Star in 1939 and called "The Corner Star" according to The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman.

The quilt trail square mounted on the Wagner-Worley Farm barn is patterned after an heirloom quilt that has been passed down through the Wagner family. According to quilt appraiser, Candace St. Lawrence, the original red, white and blue quilt is in excellent condition and is typical of those made during the 1895-1915 period. It contains a nice collection of late 19th century fabrics, including Garibaldi's, printed indigos, mourning prints, clarets, turkey reds, synthetic reds, indigos, and indigo with chrome orange print. Some of the fabrics used in the quilt may have come from the clothing worn by the women of the house since blue and gray fabrics, as well as clarets, were popular from 1880 to the 1890's. Ladies of the time kept a "deep scrap bag" to be used for quilting and clothing repair, therefore, many of the fabrics are older than the quilt. The lavender plaid used in the background of the quilt may have been purchased for the quilt itself indicating at least a moderate degree of prosperity. The quilt has a white fabric muslin backing of lesser quality muslin which became available around 1895 to satisfy the burgeoning population.

This is oldest barn in Shady Valley. 150 years old with hand hewn feeder troughs and dovetail construction fully restored to a working barn. We feature "U-Pick" vegetables, fruits and flowers in season and two Tennessee Walking Horses.