Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville, TN
Date Visited: December 1, 2006
Contact Information:
2915 Island Home Ave.,
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: 865-577-4717
Fax: 865-577-1683
Website: http://www.ijams.org/
Hours:
The trails are open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.
The Visitor Center is open:
Monday by appointment only
Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mission:
“To de
velop and maintain the park as a wildlife sanctuary. Ijams seeks to increase knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the natural world by providing quality environmental education program and nature-related experiences for all people.”
History:
The Ijams Nature Center was developed on the land formerly owned by Harry and Alice Yoe Ijams. Their property consisted of a house and 20 acres of land, and both Harry and Alice loved the outdoors. Alice enjoyed gardening and Harry’s hobby was bird watching. They had four daughters and used part of the property for a Girl Scout’s summer day camp. When Harry died in 1954 and Alice followed ten years later in 1964, some Knoxville organizations worked together to purchase their land that now makes up the Ijams Nature Center. More land adjoining the Ijam’s property was also purchased, making the center even larger.
My Experience:
When I arrived at the Ijams Nature Center, I first went into the visitor’s center. Here, I looked at the exhibit on the history of the Ijams family. I really enjoyed the family artifac
ts included in this exhibit because it is interesting to see what the family would have used, like the door knocker. I also think it was a good idea to include the fake birds that Harry Ijams probably would have studied for fun when he was not looking at the real thing.
The center also has live animals on exhibit. My favorite was the large snapping turtle. He was very active when I was watching him, swimming around in his big aquarium. Also in this area is their Conservation Cottage, which is really informative about what you can do in your own home to be more environmentally friendly. The building is made out of recycled materials and there were a lot of good tips on the inside of the house including information about recycling.
After leaving the visitor’s center, I decided to check out the trails. I first walked the river trail, since I had enjoyed it the last time I visited the center. I 
love the part of this trail that goes down along the river. I sat on one of the benches for awhile and enjoyed the view. It was colder down by the river, but an unusually warm (and windy) morning anyway. I spent some time checking out the cave and was disappointed to see somebody’s garbage left behind in it. I was happy to not run into any snakes, which are all probably sleeping for the winter by now. From the river trail, I cut over onto the Discovery trail. I walked by the cool lotus pool and a sink hole. On this trail, I also got to see the old Ijam’s home site. Afterwards, I was quite tired, probably from all the wind, and I hike back to the visitor’s center, where I saw information about a program going on the next day for 2-3 year olds to learn about animals with feathers. It sounded like fun, but I don’t fit the age requirement and don’t know any 2-3 year olds in the area. Oh, well. I decide to go home then, which was a lucky decision considering what a huge drop in temperature there was.
Note: I forgot my camera and found these images online.
velop and maintain the park as a wildlife sanctuary. Ijams seeks to increase knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the natural world by providing quality environmental education program and nature-related experiences for all people.”
History:
The Ijams Nature Center was developed on the land formerly owned by Harry and Alice Yoe Ijams. Their property consisted of a house and 20 acres of land, and both Harry and Alice loved the outdoors. Alice enjoyed gardening and Harry’s hobby was bird watching. They had four daughters and used part of the property for a Girl Scout’s summer day camp. When Harry died in 1954 and Alice followed ten years later in 1964, some Knoxville organizations worked together to purchase their land that now makes up the Ijams Nature Center. More land adjoining the Ijam’s property was also purchased, making the center even larger.
My Experience:
When I arrived at the Ijams Nature Center, I first went into the visitor’s center. Here, I looked at the exhibit on the history of the Ijams family. I really enjoyed the family artifacts included in this exhibit because it is interesting to see what the family would have used, like the door knocker. I also think it was a good idea to include the fake birds that Harry Ijams probably would have studied for fun when he was not looking at the real thing.
The center also has live animals on exhibit. My favorite was the large snapping turtle. He was very active when I was watching him, swimming around in his big aquarium. Also in this area is their Conservation Cottage, which is really informative about what you can do in your own home to be more environmentally friendly. The building is made out of recycled materials and there were a lot of good tips on the inside of the house including information about recycling.
After leaving the visitor’s center, I decided to check out the trails. I first walked the river trail, since I had enjoyed it the last time I visited the center. I 
love the part of this trail that goes down along the river. I sat on one of the benches for awhile and enjoyed the view. It was colder down by the river, but an unusually warm (and windy) morning anyway. I spent some time checking out the cave and was disappointed to see somebody’s garbage left behind in it. I was happy to not run into any snakes, which are all probably sleeping for the winter by now. From the river trail, I cut over onto the Discovery trail. I walked by the cool lotus pool and a sink hole. On this trail, I also got to see the old Ijam’s home site. Afterwards, I was quite tired, probably from all the wind, and I hike back to the visitor’s center, where I saw information about a program going on the next day for 2-3 year olds to learn about animals with feathers. It sounded like fun, but I don’t fit the age requirement and don’t know any 2-3 year olds in the area. Oh, well. I decide to go home then, which was a lucky decision considering what a huge drop in temperature there was.
Note: I forgot my camera and found these images online.
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