Gay street
Guide to Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee
Named one of the Great Streets in America by the American Planning Association (APA), Gay Street is the heart of Downtown Knoxville with a buzz of activity day and evening. Within the central business district, Gay Street spans ten blocks from the Gay Street Bridge to West Jackson Avenue. You'll find beautifully preserved architecture, a lively cultural scene, and plenty of fun. Catch a illustrate at one of the two historic theaters, shop 'til you drop, dine at a novel restaurant, visit an underground bar, or simply take in the undeniable beauty of the streetscape at dusk. Explore the foremost of Gay Street below!
Breakfast & Brunch
Start your day with a handheld breakfast bagel sandwich and seasonal coffee from K Brew, or if you have a sweet tooth, try Status Dough's famous Paczkis paired with an iced coffee. There are many more weekend brunch options along the Gay Street stretch including Lilou, Harvest, Babalu, Downtown Grill, Bistro at the Bijou, and Chivo Taqueria!
Lunch
A we
A History of Gay Street
History in the Making
Gay Street was the site of the Constitutional Convention that resulted in the founding of the state of Tennessee and was a focal aim for the early political activity of both the city and the state of Tennessee. On the eve of the Civil War, Gay Street was the site of simultaneous Union and Confederate recruiting rallies.
During the Civil War, Gay Street saw some early violence, a fatal shooting of a Unionist demonstrator, days after the firing on Ft. Sumter. During the war, the street hosted headquarters of several commanders, including, briefly, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston and, during the later siege on the now Union-held city, U.S. Gen. Ambrose Burnside. Union Gen. William Sanders died as the result of wounds in the Lamar Residence on Gay. Several years after the war, former Confederate Gen. James Clanton of Alabama was killed in a gunfight with a former Union officer.
After the war, Gay Street saw extensive commercial development as railroad construction brought an industrial boom to Knoxville. By , Gay Street was hom
What&#;s in a name? Gay Street
Gay Street is one of the most charming and picturesque streets in Greenwich Village, an icon of the historic neighborhood’s anachronistic character. But the origins of its name are hotly debated, with the LGBT rights movement and abolitionism often cited as the source of its extraordinary nomenclature. And while the street certainly has strong connections to gay liberation and the African-American effort for freedom, the history behind the name is a little murkier, and a little more complicated to unravel, than one might expect.
Gay street is unique in several respects. It’s one of a handful of one-block-long streets in Manhattan, located just west of the hustle and bustle of Sixth Avenue between Christopher Street and Waverly Place. With a bend at its northern end, you can never really see the street in its entirety. The three- and four-story Federal and Greek Revival-style houses which line much of its length give Gay Street a remarkably intimate feel. The larger converted lateth-century factories at its northern end add t
Summary
Since its development in the s, Gay Street has been the center stage of downtown Knoxville's progression from a commercial wholesaling capital following the Industrial Revolution to today's vibrant entertainment and residential corridor. Through the difficult work of countless individuals, organizations, and local governments, and more than $50 million spent on redevelopment projects since , Gay Street has experienced a finish transformation from its ghost town atmosphere of the s.
Designated Area
Ten blocks between West Jackson Avenue and the southern end of the Gay Street Bridge.
First Friday is a monthly art event beginning in the block of South Gay Street and stretching to Market Square, offering visitors live performances, local food, and late night gallery shows, celebrating the vibrancy of downtown Knoxville. Photo courtesy Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Planning Excellence
The most well-known firm headquartered along the street was the Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company, which occupied a number of buildings on the street but even