NORRIS, Tenn. — During the Fourth of July, fireworks send explosions rippling across East Tennessee. Usually, the blasts can be heard across neighborhoods and communities, causing people to look up and watch the colors as they brighten up the night sky.
At the Museum of Appalachia, people will be looking at the sky for a different reason — anvils.
The museum is planning to bring back its annual Fourth of July celebration this year. The Independence Day Anvil Shoot Celebration is meant to bring visitors back to the early days of the U.S. when communities of pioneers would launch 200 lbs. anvils into the sky to mark holidays, elections and special occasions.
"While the tradition of anvil-shooting is nearly obsolete, the Museum has made it a nearly 30-year tradition, striving to keep this piece of history alive for a 21st-century audience," the museum said.
This year, the museum will host Robby Bowman from Iron Mountain Metal Crafts to discuss and demonstrate blacksmithing techniques.
Anvils will fly at different times throughout July 4, every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. The event is free for museum members, but anyone who is not a member will need to buy tickets. The tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children.
Along with the anvil shoots, the museum will host a large-scale celebration that includes a national bell-ringing ceremony, a flag procession, live music, southern food and demonstrations from blacksmiths, beekeepers, dulcimer makers, spinners, weavers, rail splitters and more.
