Fort Wood Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fort Wood Historic District
|
|
Fort Wood District looking down Oak Street
|
|
 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly bounded by Palmetto, McCallie, E. 4th and O'Neal Streets Chattanooga, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| NRHP reference No. | 79002437 |
| Added to NRHP | April 18, 1979 |
Fort Wood Historic District is a special old neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's located near the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. The neighborhood is surrounded by Palmetto Street, McCallie Avenue, East 4th Street, and O'Neal Street.
A Look at Fort Wood's Past
Fort Wood was once a military fort during the American Civil War. The Union Army built it in 1863. Today, you can still see some old cannons from that time placed around the neighborhood by the National Park Service.
After the war, in the 1880s, the fort and its land were sold. Over time, Fort Wood grew into one of Chattanooga's most beautiful places to live. Many large and stylish homes were built here. These homes showed off popular styles like Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, and Romanesque Revival.
Bringing Fort Wood Back to Life
The neighborhood started to become popular again with the renovation of the Warner House. This house is located at the corner of Vine and Palmetto Streets. The City Council also helped by giving the Fort Wood area special rules to protect its historic look. This led to many more houses being fixed up.
Today, many homes in Fort Wood have been turned into apartments. Students from the UTC especially like to live here. It's a great spot because it's close to campus but still offers off-campus living.
On April 17, 1979, the Fort Wood Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical area.
Famous Buildings in Fort Wood
Fort Wood is home to several interesting and historic buildings:
- Warner House (built in 1891)
- The William Gibbs McAdoo house (built in 1888)
- Fort Wood Apartments (built in 1904)
- The Kappa Sigma Fraternity House (built in 1903)
- The Mizpah Congregation synagogue (built around 1928)
- The 926 Oak Street house, which was once the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity House (built in 1909)
- The Z.C. Patten House (built in 1892), known as "Patten House" to UTC students. It's now home to the Alumni Affairs Department. You can also see two Civil War-era cannon on its front lawn.
- The 900 Oak Street building, which was once a fraternity house. It now houses a Twelve Tribes Community.
- The Mayor Edmund Watkins House at 801 Vine Street. Built in 1889, it now operates as the Mayor's Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast.
