Dialogue: Looking Back at the 1982 World's Fair, the Knoxville International Energy Exposition

By Todd Steed

Published May 4, 2022 at 11:21 AM EDT

Forty years ago, the world came to Knoxville for the 1982 World’s Fair, which was formally known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition. WUOT's Chrissy Keuper and Todd Steed take a look back at the event that put Knoxville in the spotlight, built the iconic Sunsphere, and changed the city. But what were those changes? And what was expected from the fair that didn't happen?
Our guests: Jack Neely, Knoxville historian and Executive Director of the Knoxville History Project; Ernie Freeberg, University of Tennessee History Department Chair; and Eric Dawson, Manager of the Knox County Public Library's McClung Historical Collection.

Todd Steed

A Knoxville native, Todd began working at WUOT in 2006 as jazz coordinator now serves as program director and host of Studio 865/Flipside, Improvisations and Changing Course. Todd's newest podcast is <i>Improvisations to Go</i>. Todd got his start in radio at WUTK, where he served as both news and music director while earning his undergraduate degree in journalism at UT. He later earned a master’s degree in education from UT and worked for several years in Programs Abroad. Todd was inducted into the East Tennessee Writer's Hall of Fame in 2023. He was also recently honored with the UT School of Journalism and Media2024 Alumni of the Year Award.<br/><br/>You can reach Todd at steed@wuot.org

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