Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium facts for kids
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Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
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| Location | McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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| Architect | Reuben H. Hunt |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Reuben H. Hunt Buildings in Hamilton County TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003823 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1980 |
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is a famous old building in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. It was built between 1922 and 1924 to honor soldiers and sailors from World War I. A well-known architect named R. H. Hunt designed it. He also designed the beautiful Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga.
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About the Auditorium
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is located at 399 McCallie Avenue. It sits between downtown Chattanooga and the UT Chattanooga campus. The building takes up half of a city block. This block is bordered by McCallie Avenue, Lindsay Street, Oak Street, and Georgia Avenue.
What's Inside?
The building has two main performance areas. The larger one, sometimes called the Tivoli, can hold 3,866 people. The smaller one, known as The Walker Theatre, seats 851 people. There is also a space in the basement. This area is used for trade shows and conventions. It is about 9,600 square feet (890 square meters) in size.
History of Renovations
By the early 1960s, the Memorial Auditorium needed repairs. It closed in 1965 and reopened after some work the next year. It closed again in 1988 for more major updates. These repairs cost over $7 million. The auditorium reopened in 1991, looking much better.
Important Events and Performances
For more than 85 years, this building has hosted many different events. These include religious festivals and political gatherings. It has also been a place for fancy parties, opera shows, musicals, and concerts. The auditorium is still an important cultural spot for Chattanooga. It is a key part of the city's history.
In July 2007, a historic concert pipe organ in the auditorium was rededicated. This organ was built when the building was first constructed. The Chattanooga Music Club worked for 21 years to restore it. Efforts are still ongoing to make sure the organ continues to be used and cared for.
Recent Updates
In February 2012, work began on the smaller community theater upstairs. It had been closed for over a year. The main reason for the closure was that it was hard for people with disabilities to access. The renovation plans included adding a concession stand and updating the bathrooms. Most importantly, an elevator was added to make the theater accessible to everyone. Architect Bob Franklin led the design for these improvements.
