Linda Brown Realty

Oak Ridge, TN Area Guide

Oak Ridge, Tennessee is located amidst the beautiful Cumberland Mountains in Eastern Tennessee. The area was originally uninhabited until 1942 when President Roosevelt chose it as one of the sites in the “Manhattan Project.” In Oak Ridge, thousands of workers assimilated and built homes so that they could contribute their time to building the atomic bombs which helped end World War 2. Oak Ridge has since become a safe and quaint mountain community with a very interesting history. With an excellent school system, superb community system and friendly citizens, Oak Ridge, Tennessee is the perfect place to build a life.

Learn more at the city’s official website: http://www.cortn.org/visitors/about-oak-ridge

History

Oak Ridge’s history, while a fascinating one, is very short. The town originated in 1942, when the United States Army Corps of Engineers bought the space, which at the time was just rural farm land. People from all over the U.S. migrated to Oak Ridge during the second World War in order to help with the project that the Army Corps of Engineers had bought the land for. “The Manhattan Project,” which we now recognize as the project that helped to end World War II with the production of the atomic bomb, was a complete secret at the time; however the town’s population increased to 75,000 residents in a few short years due to the project, making it the 5th largest city in Tennessee.

Learn more information at this website: http://oakridgevisitor.com/index.html

Attractions & Activities

American Museum of Science & Energy
The Oak Ridge American Museum of Science is the most exciting attraction in the town. Visitors can take tours around the museum and learn how 75,000 people kept the Manhattan Project a town secret and how they put an end to World War II.

Discover more at the museums website: http://amse.org/

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is a specially designed museum meant for the enjoyment of children of all ages. Visitors can play in a child-sized dollhouse, learn about the rain forest and the animals in it or hear the story of how Oak Ridge was established through the eyes of a child. This is an education yet fun activity for kids and adults alike!

Learn more at the museum’s official website: http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/

International Friendship Bell
Well we aren’t in Philadelphia, but located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee there resides a large bell monument that symbolizes friendship, freedom and hope. The International Friendship Bell serves as the first monument between the United State Manhattan Project and Japan and is a replica of a traditional Japanese bell, which stands for a promise of everlasting peace.

For more information, visit this website: http://webpages.charter.net/yokoken/bell.htm

For a full list of Oak Ridge Attractions, please visit this website: http://oakridgevisitor.com/attractions.html

Parks & Recreation

The Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Department works to provide the community with a number of outdoor park options and recreational activities to partake in. Locals and visitors alike are welcome to participate in community events.

For a full list of parks and recreational activities, visit the city’s official website, here: http://www.orrecparks.org/

Events Calendar

The Oak Ridge, Tennessee area offers a number of exciting community events throughout the year. Locals can enjoy a number of museum exhibits, concerts and festivals during any given time.

For a more detailed events calendar, visit this website: http://www.cortn.org/residents/city-events/95