Oak Ridge: America’s Pioneering Spirit

Oak Ridge: America’s Pioneering Spirit

America is a land rich in pioneer spirit; nowhere is that spirit more alive than in America’s Secret City, Oak Ridge. This two-day tour will take you back to the 1800’s to experience the true pioneer spirit of the people of the Appalachian mountains; the pioneering scientific discoveries that changed the world with the beginning of the atomic age; and the heroics of a group of twelve black high school students who, in 1956, blazed a pioneering trail during the early days of the civil rights movement.

Day One

Your adventure begins in nearby Clinton, at one of America’s hidden treasures, the Museum of Appalachia, which has been called “the most authentic and complete replica of pioneer Appalachian life in the world.” This living history museum is a tribute to the region’s early pioneers. Opened in the late 1960s with one log building on a two-acre plot, it has grown to 65 acres, including dozens of authentic log structures, a large display building, an extensive craft, gift, and antique shop, a restaurant, the Mountain Heritage room, the popular Appalachian Hall of Fame building, the People's Building, and more than a quarter of a million items on exhibit. “An Evening in Appalachia” is a popular dinner and entertainment option available for groups of 30 or more.

Next, travel just down the road to Oak Ridge, World War II’s “Secret City,” where more than 75,000 scientific pioneers helped in the development of the world’s first atomic bomb. This discovery changed the world, ended a war, and continues to keep America in the forefront of scientific research and development. The story of these “atomic pioneers” is told in vivid detail at the American Museum of Science & Energy, where science and history meet.

Day Two

The “people” stories of Oak Ridge can be seen and heard during the guided Oak Ridge Driving Tour, which takes participants to Historic Jackson Square, the original “town-site” during the days of the top-secret Manhattan Project, as well as East Tennessee Technology Park, site of the K-25 gaseous diffusion plant, which was the largest building in the world at the time of its construction.

A watershed moment in the American civil rights movement occurred on August 27, 1956 in bucolic Clinton. On that day, the actions of twelve young black students marked the beginning of the end of segregation in the south when they walked down Foley Hill from the Green McAdoo Colored School to attend classes at Clinton High School. The turmoil that followed nearly tore the town apart, and culminated with the bombing of the high school in December 1958. For 50 years the story of these young pioneers has been overlooked by the history books. The newly opened finally tells their story in startling detail and includes various artifacts, letters, news articles and video footage.