Oak Ridge Story Ideas

Oak Ridge, Tenn. Played a Major Role in the Most Significant Story of the 20^th Century

In 1942, the world was a war. Tennessee was gearing up, as was the rest of the nation, to do its part in the war effort. No one knew then that a small valley in East Tennessee would play such a large role in ending World War II. This area was chosen as one of the sites for the now historic Manhattan Project – the government code name for the development of the atomic bomb. The development of the atomic bomb was called the “most significant story of the 20^th Century” by a USA Today and Newseum poll.

American Museum of Science & Energy: More than 50 years of History in Science

Discover how 75,000 people kept a secret in Oak Ridge during WWII. Learn about Oak Ridge’s leading-edge technology that continues to earn the U.S. the title “Super Power.” Since 1949, “hair raising” experiences, live demonstrations, audiovisuals, machines, and devices have kept visitors entertained and educated. The original museum opened in an old wartime cafeteria and was originally named the American Museum of Atomic Energy.

Haw Ridge: A Mountain Biker’s Playground

Haw Ridge Park, across the lake from Bull Run Steam Plant, is a mountain biker’s playground, offering 18 plus miles of moderate to technical trails. The Tennessee Valley Authority donated the 780-acre park to the City of Oak Ridge in 1972. Once inside the park, you can test your thighs on steep, technical climbs, or test your nerves on descents with gradients in excess of 70 percent. The park is used by mountain bikers, joggers, canoers (4 miles of shoreline), Nordic skiers, and horseback riders.

Melton Hill is Perfect for Rowing

Melton Hill Lake is nationally known as one of the best 2,000 meter rowing courses in the U.S. In March, thousands of high school and collegiate rowers converge on the city to train for the upcoming season. In April and May the focus turns to racing as the Oak Ridge Rowing Association plays host to several events, including one of the largest regattas in the Southeast. As Marty Aiken, coach of the Swiss National Rowing team said, “The water on Melton Hill is perfect.”

Mountain Heritage Comes to Life at the Museum of Appalachia

Discover the pre-WWII heritage of the area at this 65-acres Appalachian history complex. John Rice Irwin’s open-air museum is called “the most authentic and complete replica of pioneer Appalachian life in the world.” The museum, which has been featured in several national publications, contains more than 250,000 pioneer relics including 30 log structures such as a chapel, schoolhouse, cabins and barns.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

For more than 50 years, the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) has provided long-term habitat conservation for many bird species, including some that are protected because of their rarity. More than 200 species of birds are known to use the ORR, including 100 plus species during the nesting season. Birders can experience the diverse bird population in Oak Ridge throughout the year at the 250-acre University of Tennessee Arboretum, the Gallaher Bend Greenway and the North Boundary Greenway.

Norris Dam Provided Part of the Electricity for the Manhattan Project

Norris Lake is where you will find Norris Dam, the first dam built in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s system. The hydroelectric dam, completed in 1936, is 265 feet high and 1,860 feet long. The dam played an important role in providing part of the electricity to Oak Ridge during WWII. At the height of the Manhattan Project, the area was using 13% of the total electricity in the U.S.

Norris Lake is a Sportsman’s Paradise

Recreation awaits you at Norris Lake, which is formed by the Powell and Clinch Rivers in Northeastern Tennessee. This beautiful lake extends 56 miles up the Powell River and 72 miles up the Clinch River. With 34,000 acres and 800 miles of shoreline, there always seems to be a secluded cove waiting for you. So whether you are fishing, camping, boating, or simply “talking it all in,” you are sure to be satisfied with the lake and its many marinas, restaurants, cabins, motels, and campgrounds.

Oak Ridge Area is Full of Little Shopping Surprises

It’s no secret. The Oak Ridge area is fortunate to have many innovative craftspeople and merchants who offer a diverse selection of fine products. In Jackson Square Historic Park, the original town-site of Oak Ridge, visitors enjoy locally-owned restaurants, arts and crafts, and collectibles in a 1940s-era. In adjacent Greenwich Village, artists in residence offer unique shops, studios and galleries in original WWII buildings. Whether you follow the area antique trail to find that special gem or visit the Upstairs Gallery for a collection of regional artists, you will find the Oak Ridge area full of little shopping surprises.

Prisoners at War, Mining Disasters and Scenic Beauty on the Coal Creek Trail

After the Civil War, Southern states enacted the “convict lease system” which turned prisoners from liabilities into assets by leasing them to work in mines, plantations, and railroads. Prisoners of the Coal Creek War, died in mining disasters at the Fraterville Mine in 1902 and the Cross Mountain Mine in 1911. Relive the history and explore the scenic mountains and streams of Coal Creek by traveling the new Motor Discovery Trail.

Riding High on Windrock Mountain

Does the thrill of an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) four-wheeling through rugged trails on a beautiful mountain suit your taste for adventure? If the answer is yes, then Windrock Mountain may be in your future. The Coal Creek Mining and Manufacturing Company (CMMC) recently opened more than 250 miles of trails on the scenic mountain. The trails are fast becoming a favorite pastime for ATV, Motor Cycle, Jeep, and 4X4 enthusiasts. All trail-related activities are coordinated through the Windrock ATV Club.

Civil Rights in Anderson County

Green McAdoo Cultural Center-On August 27, 1956, twelve young people in Clinton, Tennessee walked into history and changed the world. They were the first students to desegregate a state-supported high school in the south. Clinton High School holds the honor of having the first Black to graduate from a public high school in the South. It was a great victory for the Civil Rights Movement. Learn the fascinating history of the twelve and how they not only changed a community but a nation at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center.