Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was the first of its kind in the country, it was authorized by the United States Congress in 1890. In 1895 it was dedicated and continues to serve as a historical and national military park.

The park spreads over nine thousand acres of various forests, urban landscapes, battlefields, and monuments. The park has six notable places in its area- Chickamauga Battlefield, Lookout Mountain Battlefield, Missionary Ridge, Moccasin Bend, Signal Point, and Orchard Knob.

You can learn more about the American Civil War and why this area was considered the gateway to the deep south.

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

Chickamauga Battlefield

The Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center is found at the northern end. Inside the Visitor Center, you will find a museum that exhibits the Battle of Chickamauga, the Fuller Gun Collection, and the Campaign for Chattanooga.

You will also find a bookstore that displays an orientation film every half hour. The Center is open daily from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm with the exception of being closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The Union Army

The Union Army of Cumberland was led by General William Rosecrans in the summer of 1863. They moved from the middle of Tennessee and their objective was to capture the gateway of the Confederacy, Chattanooga. The Union Army came across Lookout Mountain in late September, they threatened General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee. This caused Bragg's Confederates to go towards LaFayette, Georgia.

From there it was more of a chasing game by both armies, like cat and mouse. On September 18, 1863, the Confederate army tried to cross West Chickamauga Creek but they were severely opposed. The Union cavalry had especially opposed at Alexander's Bridge and Reed's Bridge.

On the 19th of September 1863, a full-scale battle began. The Army of Northern Virginia and confederate troops which were reinforced by General James Longstreet began moving in from the East into the battle.

From the North, the Union reinforcements began to move in. The fight was terrifying as the units had to blindly attack each other due to the concealing of the troops by the wooded terrain.

During the course of the night, Bragg had reorganized the army. Bragg placed General James Longstreet in command of the left-wing, and General Leonidas Polk in command of the right-wing.

Initially, an early morning attack was planned but due to miscommunication, the attack happened at 9:30 in the morning. In this fight, President Abraham Lincoln's brother-in-law was killed, Confederate General Benjamin Helm.

The Cumberland Army also had their own miscommunications, regarding the placement of their troops. During the battle, General William Rosecrans gave conflicting orders to General Thomas Wood. General Thomas Wood began moving his troops North and out of line, which created a hole in the center of the Union army.

During this, the Confederates attacked and the right and center of the Union collapsed. On September 20, 1863, the Cumberland Army left the battlefield and re-joined the army to Chattanooga.

The battle was over for Chickamauga, leaving 35,000 men missing, wounded, killed and captured. The Confederates followed the Union Army to lay siege on Chattanooga.

The Union defeated the Confederates at Missionary Ridge, Orchard Knob and Lookout Mountain. They lost the battle of Chickamauga, but they won control over Chattanooga and they opened the gate to Confederacy.

Lookout Mountain Battlefield

Learn about the details of the blockade and the battles for control of Chattanooga. Exhibits can be viewed there and the historic 13 x 30-foot painting by James Walker, which is called The Battle of Lookout Mountain.

There are trails, monuments, battery positions, views and exhibits at Point Park which can be seen. Visit the center daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm, however, they’re closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The Confederates pursued the Union Army

In September 1863, the Confederate Army pursued the Union Army to Chattanooga after their victory at Chickamauga. As the Union army prepared to defend, the Confederate army prepared to siege.

Between October and November, the Confederates went on top of Lookout Mountain to observe the Union Army so that they could be aware of their artillery positions. When it was late October, the Unions and Confederates clashed in the valley of Wauhatchie which is to the west side of Lookout Mountain.

The Union troops opened the supply route of the Cracker Line and on the 24^th of November 1863, the “Battle Above the Clouds" began, as Union troops swept the slopes of Lookout Mountain to the north.

Thereafter, for the remaining period of the Civil War, Lookout Mountain was a famous tourist destination for civilians and Union soldiers. A studio was established by a photographer to take portraits of the soldiers at the location.

Missionary Ridge

In the Missionary Ridge, you will find eight monuments and reservations that tell the key highlights of the story of the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Most of them are found in residential neighborhoods along a road the ridge's crest.

It is just asked of the public to respect the residents and not block the private parking or driveways, or entering private property without permission from the owner. The Missionary Ridge park properties are open from sunrise to sunset on a daily basis.

The eight monuments and reservations are; the Bragg Reservation, Iowa Reservation at Rossville, Turchin Reservation, Ohio Reservation, Phelps Monument, DeLong Reservation, 73rd Pennsylvania Reservation, Sherman Reservation and The New York Monument at Ringgold Gap, Georgia.

The Union Soldiers attacked the Confederate defenses

On the 25^th of November, 1863, Union soldiers attacked the Confederate defenses which were along Missionary Ridge, the east of Chattanooga. There were over 50,000 soldiers and the attack started from the border of Georgia all the way to the end of Missionary Ridge.

The Confederate army began retreating towards Dalton and Chattanooga was in the Union’s hands. The eight monuments and reservations are found along the crest of the Missionary Ridge- they preserve to tell the key story of the battle.

Moccasin Bend

The Moccasin Bend is an archaeological district spanning over 12,000 years of human habitation. There are three ways to visit the Moccasin Bend, via the Gateway Site, the Blue Blazes Trail and the Brown's Ferry Federal Road.

The Moccasin Bend was used as a supply line

The Moccasin Bend has a rich history, 12,000 years worth. From 10000 to 8000 B.C, it was the Paleo-Indian Period. These were the first human inhabitant, the nomadic tribes moved here due to the resources in the valley.

From 8000 to 700 B.C, it was the Archaic Period. This was the beginning of the development of stone tools, these tools then assisted in establishing permanent villages on the Moccasin Bend.

From 700 B.C to 1000 A.D, it was the Woodland Period. This period best represented the Moccasin Bend as archeological excavations uncovered twenty sites of villages. This period is notably known for its beginning of agriculture and ceramic pottery.

From 900 to 1650 A.D, which was the Mississippian Period. During this period native people had a strong socio-political structure, built mound complexes and farmed larger tracts. Hernando de Soto or Tristan de Luna made contact with the village located in the bend, Hampton Place.

From 1838 to 1839, Cherokees were rounded up and put in deportation camps to be removed to Oklahoma. One of the camps were located near Chattanooga, at Ross' Landing. Groups of Cherokees that left Ross' Landing traveled to Oklahoma by water and they passed the Moccasin Bend. The removal of the Native Americans to the West was named the “Trail of Tears".

From 1830 to 1850, the Brown’s Ferry Road was used for the antebellum slave trade, people were enslaved on farms in the Moccasin Bend. During the battles and siege that took place in 1863, the Union and Confederate troops exchanged fire on Lookout Mountain. The peninsula was used by the Union soldiers as the main supply line, called the “Cracker Line".

Signal Point

Signal Point is an access point to the Cumberland Trail and is a popular destination for hiking and has magnificent views of the Tennessee River. Signal Point is located on the Signal Mountain and is at the end of the Signal Point Road. You will find parking available and the restrooms are made available seasonally in fall, summer and spring.

Signal Point was a communication point by Union soldiers

The Cumberland Plateau has two mountains, Signal Mountain which is northwest and Raccoon Mountain which is west of Chattanooga. Signal Point is found on Signal Mountain and it overlooks the Tennessee River, which is between both the mountains.

During the besiege of Chattanooga, Signal Point was the only high ground area that was controlled by Union troops. They used it as a communication point with the outside world by using a signaling system along the river. This happened between September and November in 1863. When Union forces opened the supply line on the 27^th of October, 1863, to the city via Brown's Ferry, the communication point was mainly used for the reporting and observing of the Confederate troop.

Orchard Knob

Orchard Knob is the size of a city block and it can be accessed to the hilltop by four sides. Some of the sides are paved but others have high grass.

You will find parking on the street. The climb to the top is short but is a very steep one. Atop you will find five monuments, there’s also tablets and artillery, each dedicated to the Illinois troops- New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

The battles for Chattanooga took place here

Battle lines were formed under the command of General George. H Thomas in Orchard Knob on 23^rd of November, 1863. They were formed between Chattanooga and Orchard Knob, which is a rocky mound.

The Confederate soldiers had already prepared themselves around the base by constructing rifle pits which would assist them in the besieging of Chattanooga. In the afternoon, 14,000 troops of Confederate soldiers went to their positions, only 634 remained to hold the line around Orchard Knob.

The Orchard Knob was closed in by Union soldiers which began to exchange fire with the Confederate soldiers. It was a minor engagement, but it showed Ulysses S. Grant that the opposing army was a very capable fighting force. But it also showed Bragg that he should be concerned about the Union attack. On the 25^th of November, Orchard Knob had become Grant's observation post, as he watched the assault by the Union soldiers on Missionary Ridge.

Top things to do at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

There’s a self-guided cell phone tour that is utilized by many of the visitors. There are eight locations around the battlefield where visitors can call and there would be a narration of the battle action that took place in a certain area. The cell phone tour information can be found in a park brochure at the visitor center.

There are also Ranger-Guided tours throughout the year, but the park’s calendar would need would be checked for that. There are also outdoor activities visitors can do in the park, like picnicking- there are however designated picnic areas in the park, and other areas are restricted to have picnics in. It is marked on the park map, so taking notice of this is of utmost importance.

Point Park (Lookout Mountain Battlefield)

Point Park offers epic views over Chattanooga, Tennessee! There are a few walking trails but our favorite was just relaxing on the benches and looking over the city.

Point Park Main Entrance Gate, atop Lookout Mountain, opens daily at 8:30 am.

Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center

View exhibits and the historic 13- by 30-foot James Walker painting, THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

Hours - 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

The visitor center is closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Address: 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350

We found parking behind the visitor center. There are also pay to park locations nearby.

Walking Tours of Point Park

Walk with a park ranger along the paved path around Point Park and learn about the history of Chattanooga and the park. These programs are offered daily at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. They typically last 30-45 minutes.

Living History Programs

Living historians will present programs on life in Civil War armies at the time of the Battle of Lookout Mountain including musket demonstrations.

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm

Cravens House

Cravens House is open for a tour from 1 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, depending on staff availability.

Lookout Mountain Battlefield Trail Map