Moccasin Bend facts for kids
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Moccasin Bend National Archeological District
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Moccasin Bend, viewed from Lookout Mountain
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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| Area | 956 acres (387 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003510 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 8, 1986 |
| Designated NHLD | September 9, 1996 |
The Moccasin Bend Archeological District is a very special place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is an archeological site, which means it holds clues about people who lived there long ago. This area is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. The National Park Service calls it one of their most unique places.
Moccasin Bend shows that people have lived there for an amazing 12,000 years! This makes it a fascinating area with a rich history. For many years, people did not fully understand how important this land was. Factories and buildings were even built on top of old historical sites. But after many years of hard work by local people and groups, Moccasin Bend was officially recognized in 2003. It became a National Archeological District.
Today, Moccasin Bend is being restored and protected. This helps the National Park Service keep its promise to save "natural and cultural resources." This way, everyone can enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by this special place for many years to come. The area is about 956 acres big. It sits right across the Tennessee River from Lookout Mountain, where a famous American Civil War battle happened. Moccasin Bend is important because many old artifacts have been found there. It was also part of the Trail of Tears and played a big role in the Civil War.
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Discovering Moccasin Bend National Archeological District
In 2003, Moccasin Bend officially became a National Archeological District. This happened with help from U.S. Representative Zach Wamp, a group called the Friends of Moccasin Bend, and other community leaders. It became part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This made Moccasin Bend the very first and only National Archeological District in the entire National Park Service!
Moccasin Bend is a 1,000-acre piece of land shaped like a horseshoe. It sits right on the edge of the Tennessee River. Most of this land now belongs to the federal government. This park has many different parts. The most important area is at the southern tip of the Bend. This spot has important Civil War sites and old American Indian villages.
After it joined the National Park Service, many projects started. Experts began to study the land and dig for old artifacts. They also worked to protect areas that were at risk. The Friends of Moccasin Bend and the National Park Service want to add things like a visitor center. Plans for this center are still being worked on.
Making Moccasin Bend into a park has been a slow process. The land was used for factories and businesses for a long time. This makes it challenging to turn it into a thriving historical area. To build new park features, some land still needs to be bought from its current owners. This can be a difficult task.
Even with these challenges, people are still working hard to improve Moccasin Bend. They want to create a unique experience for visitors. This means protecting and sharing the area's history. The group called Friends of Moccasin Bend leads many of these efforts. While they work with the city, there are already some fun things to do at Moccasin Bend.
What You Can Do There Now
Even though parts of the park are still being developed, some areas are open to the public. These spots give you a peek into the unique landscape of Moccasin Bend.
- Interpretive Center Site: The National Archeological District includes a 10.5-acre meadow. This meadow is planned to be the future home of an interpretive center. This center will have a parking lot and restrooms. It will be a main entrance for visitors. This area is on Hamm Road, a key road through Moccasin Bend. It is surrounded by industrial areas. Unlike other parts of the park, this site likely does not have many archeological treasures. This makes it a good spot for building new facilities.
- Blue Blazes Trail: The Blue Blazes Trail is a 1.5-mile hiking path. It was here even before Moccasin Bend became a National Park. This trail is low and has many wet, muddy spots. Efforts are being made to make walking easier. There are no signs on the trail yet, but many important historical spots are nearby. This includes a place where very old tools from the Paleo-era were found. You can get to the trail from a gravel parking lot.
- Brown's Ferry Federal Road: Brown's Ferry Federal Road is a 98-acre area owned by the National Park Service. It used to be a racetrack called Moccasin Bend Speedway. It also includes parts of the old John Brown Reservation. Now, it has a 1.2-mile roundtrip hiking trail. This trail goes over a path used during the Trail of Tears. Also, this road was used to move supplies for the Union Army during the Civil War in 1863. Signs along the trail explain its history. This trail is also open to the public. You can find parking on Moccasin Bend Road.
Important Historical Sites
Moccasin Bend is a National Historic Landmark. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it has many important archeological, cultural, and historical sites. Its main importance comes from its American Indian history and its role in the American Civil War. The 12,000 years of human life here have left many rare artifacts.
- Hampton Place: The most important archeological site at Moccasin Bend is Hampton Place. This area has remains of two large towns from the Late Mississippian period. Spanish explorers might have visited these towns, as Spanish artifacts have been found here. Before Moccasin Bend became a National Archeological District, Hampton Place was sadly damaged by people looking for artifacts. This left little visible evidence of the once-important site.
- Mallards Dozen Site: Another key site is the Mallards Dozen Site. This area holds clues from the Middle Woodland civilization. Most of these archeological findings are not visible today. However, you can see parts of the site from the Blue Blazes Trail.
- Vulcan Site: The Vulcan Site has remains from the Archaic and Woodland periods. This includes a house from the Late Archaic period, dating back to 1335 B.C. This is thought to be one of the earliest family homes in the southeastern United States. Parts of the Vulcan Site are on the Blue Blazes Trail and even on the Moccasin Bend Golf Course. Like other sites, the archeological findings here are not currently visible.
- Woodland Mound Complex: The Woodland Mound Complex is at the southern tip of Moccasin Bend. It is located near the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute. These mounds are believed to be burial sites from the Late Woodland period. Because they are close to the mental health facility, public access to these mounds is limited.
- Civil War Sites: Moccasin Bend was also home to John Brown, who ran Brown's Ferry. This was a site of a historic Civil War battle. While this adds to Moccasin Bend's history, not much remains of John Brown's home. There are also other Civil War sites on the southern tip of Stringers Ridge. The Union Army used these sites in 1863. The old roads from this time can still be used today. You can see many sites from Stringers Ridge.
Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park
This group started in 1994. Their goal was to help Moccasin Bend become part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. They played a huge role in creating the park. They are still very involved in how the park is managed.
When the group started, the future of Moccasin Bend was still uncertain. The idea of adding Moccasin Bend to the National Park had been rejected for decades. But the Friends of Moccasin Bend brought the idea back to life. They studied how making the area a National Park would help the city's economy. They found it would be a good thing. The Friends kept pushing for the park. They talked to state leaders and gathered support from the community.
In 2001, U.S. Representative Zach Wamp suggested a bill to create the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. It would be part of the Chickamauga National Military Park. The bill finally passed in 2003. In 2004, the Archeological District was officially created. This happened after the state and local governments gave 672 acres of public land to the federal government. The park's boundaries did not include places like the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, the golf course, a radio tower, a firing range, or a model airplane facility. The Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park were key to this whole process.
The organization was active until 2017. They worked with the National Park Service to create "outstanding visitor experiences." They also helped the National Park Service protect and share the cultural, historical, and natural resources of Moccasin Bend. The Friends of Moccasin Bend was a non-profit group. They organized events, raised money, and spoke up for the park. They made sure the park kept moving forward as a valuable place for Chattanooga.
After Moccasin Bend became part of the National Park Service's main plan, the Friends of Moccasin Bend joined with another group. This group was called Friends of the Park for the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. In 2018, they became National Park Partners: Chickamauga - Chattanooga - Moccasin Bend. National Park Partners is now working with the National Park Service. They are raising money for the new visitor and interpretive center on Hamm Road. You can learn more at Forever Moccasin Bend.
History of Moccasin Bend
Early People (10500 BC – AD 1630)
Native Americans used this land as a home for as long as 12,000 years ago!
- Paleo-Indian Period (10500–8000 BC): During this time, Moccasin Bend was home to Paleo-Indians. These people were hunters and gatherers who moved around a lot. We know this from the different types of spear points they left behind. This period was at the end of the Ice Age.
- Woodland Period (700 BC – 1000 AD): Big changes happened during the Woodland Period. People started using bows and arrows for hunting. Pottery also became very popular among Indian tribes. Many artifacts from this period have been found at Moccasin Bend.
- Mississippian Period (AD 1000–1630): During the Mississippian Period, American Indians lived in large villages on Moccasin Bend. They grew corn and other crops. This was also when Spanish explorers, like Hernando de Soto, first came to the area in 1540. Moccasin Bend was a very important place at this time.
European Contact and Forced Removal (AD 1513–1860)
When European explorers like Hernando de Soto first met American Indians, it was often very harmful for the Indian people. French and British traders brought firearms, which changed the Indian economy. Indian communities started hunting more for animal hides, which Europeans valued. During this time, the Cherokee Indians did not use Moccasin Bend very much.
Another historical path across Moccasin Bend was the USA Federal Road. It was likely built around 1805. This road connected Georgia with Tennessee by going through the Cherokee Nation. In 1838, the Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their lands by the U.S. Government. Moccasin Bend was not part of the Cherokee Nation then. However, two groups of Cherokee people crossed Moccasin Bend during the Trail of Tears.
The Civil War (1861–1865)
Moccasin Bend also played a big part in the American Civil War. The Union forces had taken control of western and central Tennessee. They still needed to conquer one important place: Chattanooga.
Chattanooga was very important because the only railroads connecting the eastern and western parts of the Confederacy met there. These railroads went through a gap in the Cumberland Mountains made by the Tennessee River. If Union forces could get into Georgia through Chattanooga, they could split the Confederacy in two. The Union took Chattanooga during the Chattanooga campaign.
After the Civil War (1866–1925)
After the Civil War, some farmers came back to the land. They started farming again. Most of the land was still used for farming. It was divided and sold to different farmers and people. In 1898, some people wanted to build a canal across the Bend. But the plan was too expensive and was dropped.
In the early 1900s, many archeologists studied Moccasin Bend. They found many burial mounds and other artifacts. At this time, people in Chattanooga were just starting to understand how important the land's history and culture were.
Early Efforts to Save the Land (1926–1960)
Before World War II, people from Lookout Mountain asked the city of Chattanooga to buy Moccasin Bend. They wanted it to be "a park and pleasure resort for all the people." This was the first of many tries to create a park there. But the Great Depression and World War II shifted everyone's focus. The idea for the park was put on hold.
In 1944, the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce created the Moccasin Bend Memorial Park Association. Their goal was to build a park dedicated to military service members. Many people supported this park. Even Governor Browning approved it in 1951. But the money needed to buy land was cut from the budget by the next governor. This stopped the memorial park project.
As the memorial park idea faded, government officials and business leaders suggested other uses for the land. Some wanted a mental health facility. Others wanted it for factories. The Chattanooga Times newspaper supported both a mental health facility and a park. In 1957, as pressure to build factories grew, the Moccasin Bend Association was formed. This group wanted to protect the land. However, most people at the time supported a plan that allowed for many different uses of the land.
With this in mind, Charles Dunn, the superintendent of the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park, said the federal government should try to buy the land and make it a National Park. But the National Park Service thought that recent buildings on the land made it less beautiful and less valuable for recreation. In 1960, a large part of the land was sold to Chattanooga and Hamilton County. This meant almost all the land on the Bend was now controlled by the public. A Chattanooga Times article said this ended a 25-year argument over Moccasin Bend.
Later Efforts to Save the Land (1961–1993)
In 1961, the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute officially opened. This was a setback for those who wanted to save the land for recreation. To fight this, the Moccasin Bend Association tried again to get the National Park Service involved. They asked the park superintendent, John Cook, for help. But he said the Bend "had lost its historical significance and part of its natural beauty." He believed the land was the responsibility of local people and governments.
As the chances of the National Park Service getting involved decreased, many building projects started. One very damaging project was a large digging operation at the future site of Chattanooga State Technical College. During this project, archeologists found many important artifacts. These showed that Indian civilizations had lived on the land for thousands of years. Supporters tried to use this to prove the land's national importance, but the National Park Service remained uninterested.
In 1965, the Moccasin Bend Golf Course was created. At the same time, the local government prepared to buy some of the last land available for factories. Many ideas were suggested for how to use the land. But building was often stopped by new discoveries of American Indian remains. These frequent discoveries made some people, especially archeologists, believe that Moccasin Bend needed to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As different ideas clashed, the city and county governments, with help from the Lyndhurst Foundation, created the Moccasin Bend Task Force in 1982. This group worked with the Chattanooga Regional Anthropological Association. These two groups had different ideas about how to handle the land. But they both agreed on the cultural importance of the land. They also opposed building more factories. The Anthropological Association was very active in digging and studying archeology. The Task Force was concerned about how much archeological work was being done. They eventually asked for all artifacts found at Moccasin Bend to be returned.
Meanwhile, Moccasin Bend was nominated to become a National Historic Landmark. This was approved in 1986. Three years later, the blue blazes trail was created. Once the land was officially recognized as historically and culturally important, groups began to plan how to watch over, protect, and save the land. In 1994, the Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park organization was started. This marked a new time for efforts to protect and restore Moccasin Bend.
Other Places on Moccasin Bend
After a long history of arguments about how to use the land, Moccasin Bend now has many different activities and buildings. The part that is a National Park is in the Northshore area of Chattanooga. But it is not connected to the main downtown area. Many of the factories that came to the area in the second half of the 1900s are still working. Manufacturers Road and Hamm Road, the main roads to Moccasin Bend, are full of factories. A common complaint about Moccasin Bend as a recreation area is that it's hard to get to because of the busy, industrial roads.
Besides the many factories, the land on Moccasin Bend is used for other things. The Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute opened in 1961 and is still running. Some park supporters hope the mental health facility will eventually move. Also, the Moccasin Bend Golf Course, which also opened in the 1960s, is still used today. This adds to the park's fragmented nature.
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute
Moccasin Bend is home to the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute. This is a hospital for mental health that opened in 1961. It was started by the Tennessee State Legislature. A local architect named Mario Bianculli designed most of the hospital's five buildings. Early research by the National Park Service suggests that three of the five buildings might not be used anymore.
Some of the land around the hospital is part of a federal government agreement. This agreement protects the entire riverbank where the hospital is located. There are several American Indian mounds on part of the hospital property. However, because of hospital security, the public has very little access to these sites.
Moccasin Bend Golf Course
The golf course is currently owned by Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga. It is managed by HMS Golf. It is about 160 acres big. It is south of the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Facility and north of the Blue Blazes Trail. The National Park Service has an agreement to protect the shoreline along the western edge of the golf course. Building the golf course changed some of the land. You can see signs of erosion in a few places. The Moccasin Bend Golf Course includes an area that is part of the Vulcan site. This is an important archeological area. This fact must be remembered when planning for the future of the property.
The Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Facility is very close to the golf course. It is a 184-acre piece of land. It was built in 1961 and is still used all the time today.
Other Features
Because it took so long to create a National Park and protect the land, Moccasin Bend has many different buildings, factories, and developed areas. The county firing range, used for law enforcement training, is on Moccasin Bend Road. The firing range has several buildings and other structures. This area is within the 750 acres of land that the city gave to the National Park Service. The Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park and other community groups are trying to convince the city to move the firing range. This would allow the National Park to have a more continuous piece of land.
There is currently one private home along Moccasin Bend Road. It is surrounded by land owned by the National Park Service. The WDEF radio towers are also surrounded by NPS-owned land. These radio towers are still in use.
