Good Monday morning! November begins with Knoxville music, family activities, Tennessee history and an important reminder to prepare for Tuesday’s election. Here are the people, places and useful resources connecting our community today.

Today in History

  • James K. Polk was born: James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795. Polk served as Tennessee’s governor, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the nation’s 11th president. Tennessee now officially observes November 2 as James K. Polk Day.
  • Howard Hughes piloted the Spruce Goose: The massive wooden aircraft made its only flight on November 2, 1947, over Long Beach Harbor in California.
  • Continuous life aboard the International Space Station began: Expedition 1 arrived at the International Space Station on November 2, 2000. The orbiting laboratory has been continuously occupied ever since.

Tennessee Trivia

Which Tennessee president is the only person to have served as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming president?

Answer: James K. Polk, who served as speaker from 1835 to 1839.

Today’s Smile

Why did the railroad conductor carry a pencil? Because he wanted to keep track of everything.

National Days

Today’s Highlights

  • Monday weather: Knoxville should have a cloudy start with a possible early shower. Temperatures will climb from the lower 50s into the upper 60s before skies begin clearing Monday evening.
  • Prepare to vote Tuesday: Tennessee’s state and federal general election is Tuesday, November 3. Early voting has ended, so voters should confirm their Election Day polling locations before leaving home.
  • Check the clocks: Daylight saving time ended Sunday. Remember to reset clocks that do not update automatically and replace batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.

Local Events

  • Little History Lessons: Railroads: Children ages 2-5 and their caregivers can explore railroad history through stories, games, crafts and artifacts from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street. Museum admission is free, but reservations are encouraged.
  • Mighty Musical Monday: House organist Freddie Brabson performs on the Tennessee Theatre’s historic Mighty Wurlitzer at noon. The program is free.
  • WDVX Blue Plate Special: Reed Turchi and James Tristan Redding perform during the free live radio show at noon inside the Visit Knoxville center, 301 S. Gay Street.
  • Drop-In Figure Drawing: The Knoxville Museum of Art offers a guided figure-drawing session with a live model from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $12-$15.
  • Bruce Cockburn with Livingston Taylor: The singer-songwriters perform Monday evening at the Bijou Theatre. Visit Knoxville’s music calendar has event and ticket information.

Featured Resource

GoVoteTN: Tennessee voters can use the Secretary of State’s official resource to check registration information, find Election Day polling places, view sample ballots and locate county election commission information.

Helpful Links

Across Tennessee

A new day honoring President Polk: This is Tennessee’s first observance of James K. Polk Day after the General Assembly designated November 2 as an annual day recognizing the former Tennessee governor and U.S. president. Polk’s birthday has traditionally been marked with a wreath-laying ceremony at his tomb on the Tennessee State Capitol grounds.

Across America

Election Day is Tuesday: Voters across the country will participate in federal, state and local elections on November 3. Residents should rely on state and county election offices for polling locations, identification requirements and sample ballots.

Around the World

Protecting journalists: The United Nations marks November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The observance calls attention to violence and threats directed at journalists and the importance of investigating those crimes.

Stock Market

Wall Street finished sharply lower Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 51,770.31, down 572.25 points. The S&P 500 ended at 7,580.07, down 140.32 points, while the Nasdaq Composite finished at 25,437.00, down 747.73 points.

Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our free newsletter. Comments may be sent to news@knoxtntoday.com.