Best kind of history class: no exam (and cocktails!)

Europa and the Bull, located on the University of Tennessee campus on McClung Plaza, is one of three recasts of the work by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles that exist in the world.

This mosasaur, a sea dinosaur, was above our heads at McClung Museum while we enjoyed cocktails and appetizers.

Dinosaurs of several different kinds constitute just one facet of the extensive collection of artifacts at McClung Museum, located in UT's Circle Park.

John Owens and Karen Sundback examine the dinos as they wait for our tour to start.

Another secton of McClung features Native American items including this arrowhead collection.

Native American sculpture: a bottle found near Chattanooga

This little hippo is in the Egyptian section of McClung.

As is this.

The inner coffin of an Egyptian priestess

Julia Bentley, left, and Kim Trent in nearly matching prints, relaxing before the Friday evening tour.

Barbara Apking, left, and Joan Markel

Stained glass from Knoxville's L&N Depot. I was partial to this because Alan and I had our rehearsal dinner at the L&N Station.

One of the two Chinese Lions of Fu at McClung. It dates to the 19th century.

My favorite part of any museum is the gift shop!

Another set of matching outfits: Angie Campbell and Mike Combs

Alan Carmichael and Carol Cortese

Mike and Sallie Ehrhardt

Jack Neely, an expert on Knoxville history, told us the tour was about to start.

First stop: Circle Park

Stone outcropping at Circle Park

Margaret Weeks, left, and Elizabeth McCarty. Elizabeth's husband, Bruce, was considered UT's "go-to" architect in the late '60s and '70s, Neely said.

Bruce McCarty was the architect for McClung Tower, our next stop.

Terry and Donna Wertz at McClung Plaza

The Clarence Brown Theatre was designed by Bruce McCarty in 1970. It is named for the Hollywood director whom Neely described as "the most generous donor in UT history."

Jack Neely is a great guide. He is very familiar with his topics, but also knows to share the little fascinating details that folks will find interesting.

Neely didn't say anything about this controversial sculpture outside Clarence Brown Theatre. Folks either love it or hate it. I'm in the "love it" camp.

Next we went to Melrose Hall, built in 1946. It was a Barber and McMurry design. "Charlie Barber loved 'collegiate gothic,'" Neely noted. "He was a romantic and loved this Old World style."

Here we are at Melrose Hall.

This is Hopecote, built in 1924, located on Melrose Avenue.

We were lucky to run into Gary Stinnett, who has been the caretaker of Hopecote since 1990. He had the keys and invited us inside. Today, Hopecote is a guest house for UT's distinguished visitors.

Hopecote features hand-hewn timber salvaged from a 19th century barn on the grounds of the birthplace of Admiral David Farragut.

This photo of Mrs. Albert Hope made in the 1890s has come to be known as "the Knoxville madonna." She and her husband commissioned their nephew, Staub, to design the house.

Bonnie and Dick Anders

Next stop: Tyson House, also listed on the National Register, located at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard. It is named for Gen. Lawrence D. Tyson, who was UT's military commandant in the 1890s and would later serve in the state Legislature.

Tyson House was built in 1895 and remodeled by George Barber in 1907. Today it houses the Office of Alumni Affairs.

If you are ever asked in a trivia contest to name a place on UT campus where you can find Corinthian columns, say "Tyson House."

This is the Weston Fulton House and it is slated to be torn down by UT. Located at 900 Volunteer Boulevard, it was built in 1913 by Knoxville industrialist Weston Fulton, who lived in it for 30 years. It also has been a hospital.

Tennessee's largest persimmon tree, according to Jim Cortese of Cortese Tree Service, is located at Henson Hall.

The cute kitty would not let us get near it.