In 1942, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built three facilities on rural farmland that turned isotope uranium and plutonium into atomic weapons, according to the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. The American Museum of Science & Energy tells about Oak Ridge’s birth, the Manhattan Project and the Y‑12 National Security Complex, which is still in operation. Additionally, you’ll get juiced by science and technology by exploring exhibits that cover nuclear energy in space, the earth sciences, robotics and static electricity. Families can also head to the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. Highlights include learning about life in 1865, strolling in a replica Amazon Rainforest and playing with a range of toys from the 20th century.
A handful of performing arts companies have been pleasing audiences even before Oak Ridge opened to the public in 1949. The Oak Ridge Playhouse, which opened in 1943, typically produces half a dozen Broadway-style shows a season, including productions geared for kids such as “Ramona Quimby.” The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra goes back to 1944, making it the state’s longest-operating symphony orchestra, according to the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s website. The orchestra has six to 10 concerts a year that cover music from legends such as Bach and tunes from movies like “Gone with the Wind.” Additionally, the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s Chamber Series consists of six more concerts a season featuring touring musicians.
Stay healthy and explore nature when strolling through the 250-acre UT Arboretum. The site, which is connected with the University of Tennessee, has more than 2,500 woody plants and interpretative signage dotted along nine trails. To break a sweat, head to one of the city’s 48 greenbelt districts for a jog, bike ride or inline skating outing. Fishermen flock to the Melton Hill Reservoir, which flows 44 miles upstream. Try your luck in catching largemouth bass, skipjack herring, musky and other varieties.
The Secret City Festival pays homage to Oak Ridge's World War II legacy with living history events, including guns and mortar firing demonstrations. Other highlights include a Hula Hoop performance, a juggling show and live music ranging from Scottish drums shows to nationally-known musicians. The two-day festival typically takes place in June. Watch art unfold before your eyes at the one-day Street Painting Festival sponsored by the city’s Rotary Club in early October. Artists crank out chalk masterpieces at Roane State Community College with the top drawings earning prizes.
