Ijams Nature Center
'In 1910, Harry Ijams and his wife, Alice Yoe Ijams, purchased 20 acres of land along the Tennessee River to raise their family. Harry created a Bird Sanctuary on the site while Alice grew flowers and sold them to a local florist. In 1966, wanting to protect the Bird Sanctuary and ensure the Ijams family legacy continued, the Knoxville Garden Club and Knox County Council of Garden Clubs applied for an open space grant and the City of Knoxville purchased the land. Ijams Nature Park was dedicated in 1968 and became Ijams Nature Center, Inc. on Nov. 8, 1975.
Over the years, Ijams Nature Center has grown in size and stature to become the region’s leading wildlife sanctuary and environmental learning center.
In the early 2000s, the nature center took on the management of Mead’s and Ross Marble quarries, which in their heyday produced Tennessee marble used in local buildings and national monuments. Great strides have been made to restore this former industrial site to its natural state while continuing to honor the history of Knoxville's contributions to a once booming marble business.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ijams family's legacy in 2010, a visual history book detailing the Ijams family, Mead’s and Ross Marble quarries, and the development of the nature center was produced by Paul James.'
About Ijams
'In 1910, Harry Ijams and his wife, Alice Yoe Ijams, purchased 20 acres of land along the Tennessee River to raise their family. Harry created a Bird Sanctuary on the site while Alice grew flowers and sold them to a local florist. In 1966, wanting to protect the Bird Sanctuary and ensure the Ijams family legacy continued, the Knoxville Garden Club and Knox County Council of Garden Clubs applied for an open space grant and the City of Knoxville purchased the land. Ijams Nature Park was dedicated in 1968 and became Ijams Nature Center, Inc. on Nov. 8, 1975.
Over the years, Ijams Nature Center has grown in size and stature to become the region’s leading wildlife sanctuary and environmental learning center.
In the early 2000s, the nature center took on the management of Mead’s and Ross Marble quarries, which in their heyday produced Tennessee marble used in local buildings and national monuments. Great strides have been made to restore this former industrial site to its natural state while continuing to honor the history of Knoxville's contributions to a once booming marble business.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ijams family's legacy in 2010, a visual history book detailing the Ijams family, Mead’s and Ross Marble quarries, and the development of the nature center was produced by Paul James.'
Need to know where to park? Our parking map will be released closer to the event!
Warbler Sponsors:
FirstBank
The Christman Company
Design Innovation Architects
NOI
Sandpiper Sponsors:
Charles D. Smith Architecture & Planning, LLC
Home Federal Bank
Ross Bryan Associates, Inc.
Visit Knoxville
SESCO Lighting
Salamander Sponsors:
Horton Built Environments Consulting, Inc.
Sparkman & Associates Architects
KaTom
Carrie Bearden & Jon Cheek
Purvis Builders
Duane & Marsha Grieve
Ardurra
Mary & Dan Holbrook
Newcomb & Boyd
Denark Construction, Inc.
City of Knoxville Parks & Recreation
Merit Construction
Johnson & Galyon, Inc.
Egret Sponsors:
Dollar & Ewers Architecture
Christopoulous & Kennedy Construction, Inc.
East Tennessee Foundation
Knoxville Blue Print & Supply
Blackburn Development Group
BarberMcMurry Architects
S&ME
Bible Harris Smith, P.C.
Osprey Sponsors:
SouthEast Bank
Need to know where to park?
Our parking map will be released closer to the event!
