Memorabilia to Celebrate the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair
Collectors of historical memorabilia may decide to focus on a specific theme and gather mementos from world's fairs, such as the City of Knoxville fair in 1982. You may be one of those collectors who keeps history alive by collecting fair, park, and architecture collectibles. You'll find postcards, T-shirts, and other items commemorating the one-time event.
What Is the History of the 1982 World's Fair?
Held in Knoxville, Tennessee, the fair opened on May 1, 1982, and ended October 31 of the same year. Fairs normally concentrate on technology and innovative developments exemplified by the Knoxville theme, "Energy Turns the World." Over 11 million visitors attended the fair park from nations around the world, such as Australia, China, and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the 70-acre fairground included international exhibits like an Egyptian exhibition of valuable artifacts. Additionally, there was a mummy from Peru and a rotating Rubik's Cube from Hungary positioned at the pavilion entrance. Since the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, hosted the fair site, Knoxvillians decorated the railroad yard and depot located downtown. Still standing today in the original fair park area, a 266-foot tower called the Sunsphere was constructed for the prestigious event.
What Are Some Types of 1982 World's Fair Collectibles?
- Tickets: Uncirculated tickets with stubs and lots including admission for children, adults, and seniors are available. You can also find vintage two-day, evening, and fireworks tickets and stubs.
- Souvenir Spoons: You can purchase individual metal spoons and ones in boxes with clear viewing tops. Some are stamped with the pertinent fair information and an image of the Sunsphere tower or other design.
- Collector's Plates: There are various designs of collector's plates featuring scenes from the fairgrounds. Most plates average 7 to 8 inches in diameter and have gold or silver rims.
- Press Passes: The passes were available to reporters for select events such as the international energy symposium or a general admission pass to the press facility which didn't cover paid activities.
What Collectibles Were Released on Opening Day of the 1982 World's Fair?
In addition to household items, such as cups and trays, video game tokens were minted to play featured videos. Visitors could play such games as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and four others. Cherry cokes were also available for the first time at the 1982 expo. Likewise, dignitaries received a Knoxville world's fair pin, and 250,000 cases or six million cans of World's Fair Beer were sold. During the 35th anniversary of the fair, the beer was available in Knoxville bars in 2017.