Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park |
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Cannon Row
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 Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Location in Tennessee
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Catoosa, Dade, & Walker County, Georgia & Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States |
| Nearest city | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Area | 9,036 acres (36.57 km2) federal: 8,973 acres (3,631 ha) |
| Established | August 19, 1890 |
| Visitors | 977,158 (in 2019) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park |
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Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
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| Location | S of Chattanooga on U.S. 27, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia |
| Built | 1890 |
| Built by | United States War Department, National Park Service |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Single-pen log cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000274 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is a special place. It is located in northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. This park protects the sites of two big battles from the American Civil War. These battles were the Battle of Chickamauga and the Siege of Chattanooga. The park helps us remember and learn about these important historical events.
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History of the Park
Why was the Park Created?
In the 1890s, the United States Congress decided to create the first national military parks. These parks were made to protect important battlefields. Chickamauga and Chattanooga was the first and largest of these parks. It was officially opened in September 1895.
Two generals from the Union Army, Henry V. Boynton and Ferdinand Van Derveer, worked hard to create this park. They fought in the Civil War and saw how important it was to save these battlefields. Another Union officer, Henry M. Cist, also helped a lot. He led a group called the Chickamauga Memorial Society.
Who Managed the Park?
In its early years, the park was managed by the War Department. This department used the park for military studies and as a memorial. Later, in 1933, the National Park Service took over managing the site.
The Park During the Spanish–American War
What was Camp George H. Thomas?
The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was used in a special way during the Spanish–American War. It became a major training center for soldiers from the southern states. For a while, the park was even called "Camp George H. Thomas". This name honored a Union Army commander from the Civil War.
The park was a good place for training because it was close to a big train hub in Chattanooga. It also had lots of open land. This made it easy to gather soldiers before they went to serve in places like Cuba.
Exploring the Park Areas
The military park has four main areas. It also has a few smaller, separate spots around Chattanooga.
- Chickamauga Battlefield
- Missionary Ridge
- Lookout Mountain Battlefield and Point Park
- Moccasin Bend
What is Moccasin Bend?
Like all historic places managed by the National Park Service, the military park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 2003, Moccasin Bend became a new part of the park.
Moccasin Bend Archaeological District is a very important area. It is right across the Tennessee River from Lookout Mountain. This area is special because it has many old archaeological sites. These sites show where American Indian people used to live.
Today, there are some visitor services at Moccasin Bend. You can find two hiking trails there: the Blue Blazes Trail and the Browns Ferry Road. There is also a ten-acre meadow. All these areas are open to the public. The park plans to add more things for visitors and restore the land in the future.
