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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.11mi
Map Pin
Bicentennial Park, 296 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA
POI 1 Tour Image
Treaty of the Holston & the Tennessee River
Welcome to Knoxville. As you begin your tour, take a moment to appreciate the broad river beside you. Today it is known as the Tennessee River, but for thousands of years these waterways served as vital transportation routes and gathering places for Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee.

Just a short distance from here, an important chapter in American history unfolded. In 1791, the Treaty of the Holston was signed between representatives of the newly formed United States government and leaders of the Cherokee Nation. Negotiated by Governor William Blount on behalf of President George Washington, the treaty sought to establish peace, define territorial boundaries, and regulate relations between settlers and the Cherokee people.

While the agreement was intended to reduce conflict on the frontier, its promises were not always honored. Continued westward expansion placed increasing pressure on Cherokee lands, making the treaty an important but complicated milestone in the history of the region.

The river before you played a central role in that story. Long before highways and railroads connected East Tennessee to the rest of the country, people traveled these waters for trade, communication, and exploration. The river helped shape the growth of Knoxville, transforming it from a frontier settlement into the thriving city you see today.

As you continue your journey through Knoxville, you'll discover how layers of Native American heritage, frontier ambition, industrial growth, and cultural reinvention have all contributed to the city's unique character.

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Place #2
Distance: 0.20mi , Attraction : Park (Recommended selfie spot).
Map Pin
466 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37915, USA
POI 2 Tour Image
Hill Avenue Bridge & Gay Street Bridge: Knoxville's Bridges Through Time
On your left, rising above Neyland Drive, is the Hill Avenue Bridge. Completed in 1936, this elegant concrete structure is one of Knoxville's finest examples of early twentieth-century bridge engineering. Designed using a patented arch system developed by engineer Daniel Luten, it has connected different parts of the city for generations.

From here, take a moment to look behind you. The striking green steel bridge spanning the Tennessee River is the historic Gay Street Bridge, the oldest bridge across the river in Knoxville. Opened in 1898, its distinctive arches have become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, linking downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville for well over a century.

This spot offers a unique perspective on Knoxville's evolution. In one direction stands the Hill Avenue Bridge, representing the city's growth during the automobile age. In the other is the Gay Street Bridge, a reminder of Knoxville's earlier days as a bustling river city. Between them lies a community that has continually reinvented itself while preserving the structures that tell its story.

Knoxville native and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy often drew inspiration from the city's bridges, riverfront, and overlooked spaces. Local lore even suggests that this area beneath the Hill Avenue Bridge helped inspire scenes in his acclaimed novel Suttree.

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  https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_organizations/parks_and_recreation/parks_and_greenways/volunteer_landing
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Treaty of the Holston & the Tennessee River
Map Pin Place 2 Hill Avenue Bridge & Gay Street Bridge: Knoxville's Bridges Through Time
Map Pin Place 3 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Home of the Giant Basketball
Map Pin Place 4 James White's Fort - Knoxville's First Settlement
Map Pin Place 5 Blount Mansion: Where Tennessee Took Shape
Map Pin Place 6 Gay Street: Knoxville's Main Stage
Map Pin Place 7 Tennessee Theatre: Knoxville's Grand Palace
Map Pin Place 8 Krutch Park: Knoxville's Urban Oasis
Map Pin Place 9 Market Square: Knoxville's Gathering Place
Map Pin Place 10 Knoxville Visitors Center: Your Gateway to the City
Map Pin Place 11 Old City: Knoxville's Neighborhood of Reinvention
Map Pin Place 12 Southern Railway Station: Knoxville's Gateway to the World
Map Pin Place 13 World's Fair Park: Knoxville's Moment on the World Stage
Map Pin Place 14 Sunsphere: Knoxville's Golden Icon
Map Pin Place 15 Clinch Avenue Viaduct: Knoxville's Bridge Between Eras
Map Pin Place 16 World's Fair Park: Knoxville's Backyard
Map Pin Place 17 University of Tennessee & Ayres Hall: Welcome to Rocky Top
Map Pin Place 18 Ayres Hall: A View from The Hill



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How to take a UCPlaces tour
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
  • No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
  • Walk at your own pace.
  • No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
  • Take the tour in your preferred language.
  • Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
  • Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
  • Enjoy preferred prices.

What's included?
  • A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay / Android / Android Auto].
  • Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
  • Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
  • Apple CarPlay connection (iOS users) and Android Auto connection (Android users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
  • Earphones (highly recommended).
  • Smartphone.
  • Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
  • Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
  • Food and drinks
  • Physical tour guide.

Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural

+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided walking tour includes 18 stops, covering top attractions such as Treaty of the Holston & the Tennessee River, Hill Avenue Bridge & Gay Street Bridge: Knoxville's Bridges Through Time, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Home of the Giant Basketball, James White's Fort - Knoxville's First Settlement, Blount Mansion: Where Tennessee Took Shape.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Treaty of the Holston & the Tennessee River (Address: Bicentennial Park, 296 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided walking tour designed to be completed on foot through walkable areas and city highlights.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided walking tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you.
+ Is this a walkable tour?
Yes, this tour is fully walkable and designed to follow a comfortable route through pedestrian-friendly areas.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There is one thing that you need - A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour) and comfortable walking shoes! But here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a mobile charger/battery. 2. Bring earphones for the best experience. 3. Bring a bottle of water and dress appropriately according to the weather forecast.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. Just follow the route (cross streets carefully using crosswalks) and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue the from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!