Next up on our 2014 trip through Tennessee was Chattanooga, including Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. The park is made up of several sites: Chickamauga Battlefield, Lookout Mountain Battlefield, Missionary Ridge, Signal Point, Orchard Knob and Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. We visited both battlefields, drove Missionary Ridge and stopped by Orchard Knob. Before we headed to the battlefield, we went to Chattanooga National Cemetery. We also stayed in the coolest hotel -- it was an old train station and our room was in a converted train car!!
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Ohio's Tribute to Andrews Raiders at Chattanooga National Cemetery. |
We also visited the downtown area and walked around some. These are some signs we found:
These signs were at our hotel:
On to the battlefields! Our first stop was
Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga. Point Park is actually one of my favorite places that I've visited and I'm planning to go back next year. I want to go hiking on the mountain!
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The entrance gate into Point Park is so amazing. |
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There's a reason they called it the "Battle Above the Clouds" |
Next, was
Chickamauga, which is the largest area of the park:
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Brotherton House |
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Wilder's Brigade Monument. There's a LOT of steps up that thing! It overlooks the area where Wilder's "Lightning Brigade" fought. |
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My great great great grandfather was in the 17th Indiana, but according to his military records he was sick and not at the battle. If I remember correctly, he had diphtheria. |
Driving
Missionary Ridge: This was a twisty road along the top of a mountain but I thought it was fun (as a passenger lol). It's a residential area so it's definitely park only in designated areas and stay off of private property while you're up here.
And visiting
Orchard Knob: After the Union took the Knob from the Confederates, it became Grant's forward observation post as the Union assaulted Missionary Ridge. This is also in a neighborhood, a not very nice one if I remember correctly.
Our last stop was the Tennessee Valley Railroad and Museum: