Upcoming Events

Battlefield Overview Tour
Aug
30

Battlefield Overview Tour

These tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10 am and at 2 pm. Join a park ranger for a 90-minute overview tour of the Battle of Chickamauga. These outdoor tours are designed to provide a basic overview of the battle and begin at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. You will drive your own vehicle in a car caravan, following a park ranger to the program location(s) within the battlefield. At each stop, the ranger will share stories about what happened in that area. These tours do not require much walkin but be prepared to stand for 15-20 minutes at a time. Please note that these tours require at least four adult participants to make. Stop by the front desk when you arrive for more information.

During summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day, the Chickamauga Battlefield Overview Tour takes place at 10 am (see above for additional information), and a special ranger-led talk (Ranger's Choice), lasting up to 1-hour, is given at 2 pm. Programs are offered daily with exceptions for weather and staffing.

There are no admission fees for programs at Chickamauga Battlefield.

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Walking Tours of Point Park
Aug
30

Walking Tours of Point Park

Walking tours of Point Park are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm and typically last 30-45 minutes. Visitors walk with a park ranger along the paved path around Point Park and learn about the history of Chattanooga and the park. Programs begin just inside the gate at Point Park.

These programs are offered daily during the summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Admission to Point Park is $10 per adult, ages 16 and over.

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National Treasures: Party at Point Park 2025
Sep
4

National Treasures: Party at Point Park 2025

“Stand With YOUR Park” at the 2025 National Treasures: Party at Point Park!

This year, we honor the success of the recent “Save the Bend, Again” campaign and the core strategy team who worked tirelessly to preserve the dream of Moccasin Bend becoming a fully realized National Park asset for Chattanooga, for Tennessee, and for all Americans.

Jay Mills, Tricia King Mims, Mickey Robbins, Dan Saieed, and Congressman Zach Wamp

Guest tickets = $100 each

  • "Young Family" tickets = $250 for two (2) adults (or children age 13 and over) and up to two (2) children ages 12 and under 

  • Child tickets = $50 each (ages 12 and under)

  • "Honored Guests" tickets = $500, which includes four (4) tickets + recognition in the event program and our annual newsletter.

  • "Host Partners" tables = $1,000 which includes eight (8) tickets at a reserved table + recognition in the event program and our annual newsletter.

All tickets include:

  • Delicious buffet featuring a “casual southern supper” menu from Events with Taste

  • Complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks

  • LIVE music from the New Dismembered Tennesseans

  • Automatic entry into a drawing for "gate" prizes

  • Keepsake photos from Umbrella Rock and/or the Point Park brow


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Battlefield Overview Tour
Sep
6

Battlefield Overview Tour

  • Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

These tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10 am and at 2 pm. Join a park ranger for a 90-minute overview tour of the Battle of Chickamauga. These outdoor tours are designed to provide a basic overview of the battle and begin at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. You will drive your own vehicle in a car caravan, following a park ranger to the program location(s) within the battlefield. At each stop, the ranger will share stories about what happened in that area. These tours do not require much walkin but be prepared to stand for 15-20 minutes at a time. Please note that these tours require at least four adult participants to make. Stop by the front desk when you arrive for more information.

During summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day, the Chickamauga Battlefield Overview Tour takes place at 10 am (see above for additional information), and a special ranger-led talk (Ranger's Choice), lasting up to 1-hour, is given at 2 pm. Programs are offered daily with exceptions for weather and staffing.

There are no admission fees for programs at Chickamauga Battlefield.

View Event →
Walking Tours of Point Park
Sep
6

Walking Tours of Point Park

Walking tours of Point Park are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm and typically last 30-45 minutes. Visitors walk with a park ranger along the paved path around Point Park and learn about the history of Chattanooga and the park. Programs begin just inside the gate at Point Park.

These programs are offered daily during the summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Admission to Point Park is $10 per adult, ages 16 and over.

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The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
Sep
22

The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series

  • Tennessee Aquarium River Journey Auditorium (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Speakers for 2025 will be announced soon!

National Park Partners presents three unique Moccasin Bend Lecture Series events each fall with fascinating speakers and topics related to National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history; and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War. Founded in 2006, the series is underwritten by TN State Rep. Greg A. Vital and now celebrates its 20th anniversary thanks to his generous sponsorship.

Our series takes place on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm at the Tennessee Aquarium facilities on the Chattanooga Riverfront. Please note the exact location for each lecture.

All lectures are FREE and open to the public.

Recordings of previous lectures are available on-demand on our YouTube Channel.

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The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
Oct
20

The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series

  • Tennessee Aquarium River Journey Auditorium (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Speakers for 2025 will be announced soon!

National Park Partners presents three unique Moccasin Bend Lecture Series events each fall with fascinating speakers and topics related to National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history; and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War. Founded in 2006, the series is underwritten by TN State Rep. Greg A. Vital and now celebrates its 20th anniversary thanks to his generous sponsorship.

Our series takes place on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm at the Tennessee Aquarium facilities on the Chattanooga Riverfront. Please note the exact location for each lecture.

All lectures are FREE and open to the public.

Recordings of previous lectures are available on-demand on our YouTube Channel.

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The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
Nov
10

The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series

  • Tennessee Aquarium River Journey Auditorium (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Speakers for 2025 will be announced soon!

National Park Partners presents three unique Moccasin Bend Lecture Series events each fall with fascinating speakers and topics related to National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history; and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War. Founded in 2006, the series is underwritten by TN State Rep. Greg A. Vital and now celebrates its 20th anniversary thanks to his generous sponsorship.

Our series takes place on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm at the Tennessee Aquarium facilities on the Chattanooga Riverfront. Please note the exact location for each lecture.

All lectures are FREE and open to the public.

Recordings of previous lectures are available on-demand on our YouTube Channel.

View Event →

Walking Tours of Point Park
Aug
23

Walking Tours of Point Park

Walking tours of Point Park are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm and typically last 30-45 minutes. Visitors walk with a park ranger along the paved path around Point Park and learn about the history of Chattanooga and the park. Programs begin just inside the gate at Point Park.

These programs are offered daily during the summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Admission to Point Park is $10 per adult, ages 16 and over.

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From Vicksburg to Chickamauga: Captain Charles Swett’s Warren Light Artillery at Chickamauga (Artillery Demonstrations)
Aug
23

From Vicksburg to Chickamauga: Captain Charles Swett’s Warren Light Artillery at Chickamauga (Artillery Demonstrations)

Artillery demonstrations will occur at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM

Each demonstration will last 30 minutes.

Captain Charles Swett’s Battery hailed from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Little did the men of the battery know that their hometown would become the epicenter of one of the most grueling campaigns of the Civil War, but they would miss it by fighting in another state and in an army charged with defense of another city and state - Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Come hear the story of Captain Swett and his men while also learning about (and witnessing) how a cannon was fired during the Battle of Chickamauga. 

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Battlefield Overview Tour
Aug
23

Battlefield Overview Tour

These tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10 am and at 2 pm. Join a park ranger for a 90-minute overview tour of the Battle of Chickamauga. These outdoor tours are designed to provide a basic overview of the battle and begin at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. You will drive your own vehicle in a car caravan, following a park ranger to the program location(s) within the battlefield. At each stop, the ranger will share stories about what happened in that area. These tours do not require much walkin but be prepared to stand for 15-20 minutes at a time. Please note that these tours require at least four adult participants to make. Stop by the front desk when you arrive for more information.

During summer months, Memorial Day - Labor Day, the Chickamauga Battlefield Overview Tour takes place at 10 am (see above for additional information), and a special ranger-led talk (Ranger's Choice), lasting up to 1-hour, is given at 2 pm. Programs are offered daily with exceptions for weather and staffing.

There are no admission fees for programs at Chickamauga Battlefield.

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The Drums of War: The Secession Crisis
Aug
16

The Drums of War: The Secession Crisis

Why did Americans feel compelled to tear apart this great Republic? What tensions led neighbors to become enemies, and a nation to descend into war? Join us for this special talk as we explore the deep-rooted conflicts that brought the country to the brink of war.

This program begins inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center (3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742)

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The Road to Chattanooga: The Battle of Chickamauga Opens Along Chickamauga Creek
Aug
16

The Road to Chattanooga: The Battle of Chickamauga Opens Along Chickamauga Creek

Join Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga and National Park Partners for a FREE, 3 hour guided kayak tour to explore Chattanooga's Civil War waterways on the West Chickamauga Creek. An interpretive National Park Ranger provides a historical narrative of the rich Civil War history associated with one of the most famous battles of the war – The Battle of Chickamauga.  The National Park Partners sponsor these events to give visitors the opportunity to paddle the meandering waters of West Chickamauga Creek to learn about the rich Civil War history from an interpretive park ranger.  Outdoor Chattanooga provides the on water instructional guides and equipment.

Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the program and is required as space is limited.  Additional trip information will be shared after registration.

PADDLER REQUIREMENTS
Appropriate for ages 16 and up.  Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
No experience is necessary.  Paddler weight maximum is up to 250 lbs.  Equipment and instruction provided.  Lifejackets provided and required.

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Garrity's Alabama Battery on Lookout Mountain (Artillery Demonstrations)
Aug
9

Garrity's Alabama Battery on Lookout Mountain (Artillery Demonstrations)

Artillery demonstrations will occur at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
Each demonstration will last 30 minutes.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will conduct artillery firing demonstrations at Point Park, part of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield. 

The soldiers of Captain James Garrity’s Alabama Battery spent two lonely months perched atop Lookout Mountain during the Siege of Chattanooga, firing periodically on Federal batteries and wagon trains. Confederate artillery on Lookout Mountain prevented the Union army from using its main supply route into Chattanooga, creating a desperate situation for the Federal troops besieged in the city.

Join us to learn more about the experiences of these Confederate cannoneers during the Siege of Chattanooga and to experience the thunder of artillery fire from the heights of Lookout Mountain.

Please dress accordingly for the weather, and a folding chair might be desirable.

Cover photo by Tim Omarzu (CTFP)

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The Gateway to the Confederacy: Chattanooga’s Importance During the Civil War
Jul
19

The Gateway to the Confederacy: Chattanooga’s Importance During the Civil War

Join Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park  in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga and National Park Partners providing the opportunity for a FREE 2.5-hour guided kayak tour of downtown Chattanooga on the Tennessee River.   This unique educational adventure offers a chance to explore downtown Chattanooga from the water, gaining a new perspective on its strategic significance during the Civil War.   Outdoor Chattanooga provides the on water instructional guides and equipment

Led by an interpretive National Park Ranger, you’ll receive an engaging historical narrative as Chattanooga, positioned along the Tennessee River, was a major transportation hub and vital railroad center, connecting the South to important supply lines. The river served as a natural highway for transporting troops, supplies, and equipment. Controlling Chattanooga meant controlling access to these critical resources.
Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the program and is required as space is limited.  Additional trip information will be shared after registration.

PADDLER REQUIREMENTS
Appropriate for ages 16 and up.  Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
No experience is necessary.  Paddler weight maximum is up to 250 lbs.  Equipment and instruction provided.  Lifejackets provided and required.

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Lookout Mountain Battlefield Summer Camp
Jul
16
to Jul 18

Lookout Mountain Battlefield Summer Camp

If you have a rising 4th grader to rising a 7th grader, we have a camp for them this summer! Every year, the park hosts summer day camps at Chickamauga Battlefield and at Lookout Mountain Battlefield. This year, our Chickamauga Battlefield Camp is schedule from June 24 - June 27 and will be a camp utilizing bicycles to get from place to place each day. Our Lookout Mountain Battlefield Camp is scheduled from July 16 - July 18 and will a hiking camp based out of Point Park, on Lookout Mountain.

Camp hours are 9 am - 1 pm; lunch is not provided, but there will be time for snacks. Campers are encouraged to bring snacks and water each day.

Various activities will include historically related scavenger hunts, biking and hiking to historic areas, activities associated with Native American, Civil War, and Modern history, sketching and drawing on Lookout Mountain, and more...

If you are interested in your child or children participating in this FREE summer day camp, please email chch_education@nps.gov for additional registration information.

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Dead Men Do Tell Tales: John Otto’s Story
Jul
12

Dead Men Do Tell Tales: John Otto’s Story

John Otto, a sergeant in Company D, 21st Wisconsin, was a German immigrant who settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. Soon after his enlistment, he found himself in the deadly strife of the American Civil War and ultimately marched onto the Chickamauga battlefield.

To hear come hear about his story and experience in the dark woods along the banks of the Chickamauga during this special program.

Join us at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center before driving out to the program location to hear this tale.

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National Park Night with the Lookouts
Jul
9

National Park Night with the Lookouts

Take me out to the BallPARK! Join National Park Partners for a fun night that combines America's game - baseball - with America's best idea - National Parks. Park Rangers will be on hand with giveaways and fun activities for kids. Purchase discount tickets through NPP for only $5 each (no fees!) or make a donation to bring our youth partners and their families to the game. Donated tickets will be provided to Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), Y-CAP, area summer recreation leagues, church groups, and more as a way to connect the next generation of National Park stewards to their National Park.

You can participate in a couple ways - 

1. Buy tickets through us to take your family, your employees, your clients, your firm, your book club, etc. to the game at a great discount, and directly support YOUR National Park!

2. Sponsor tickets through us that we will donate to RBI (reviving baseball in inner cities) which is an amazing youth outreach program centered on personal skill development through baseball. This option also directly supports YOUR park, a double deal!

If you've been meaning to go to a baseball game and need another reason, or you're a diehard Lookouts fan, I hope you'll consider going on July 9th through us and supporting the great work that the NPP team does to steward Chattanooga's Parks and support the Park Service.


Tickets available soon, stay tuned! Sponsorship opportunities are open. At certain sponsorship levels, businesses can be acknowledged at the game over the loudspeaker and logos can be featured in the NPP video running on the jumbotron. Please email clay@nppcha.org for sponsorship inquiries.

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Max van den Corput: Artillerist and Architect
Jul
5

Max van den Corput: Artillerist and Architect

Artillery demonstrations will occur at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
Each demonstration will last 30 minutes.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present artillery firing demonstrations inside Point Park, on Lookout Mountain.

Respected in Europe and the United States, Max Van Den Corput’s talents were beyond compare. Whether on a battlefield or a drafting table, Corput was the consummate professional. With a reputation for quality, Corput excelled in the Confederate military and as an architect. We invite you to come and hear his story.

Please dress accordingly for the weather, and a folding chair might be desirable.

Cover photo by Tim Omarzu (CTFP)

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Chickamauga Battlefield Summer Camp
Jun
24
to Jun 27

Chickamauga Battlefield Summer Camp

If you have a rising 4th grader to rising a 7th grader, we have a camp for them this summer! Every year, the park hosts summer day camps at Chickamauga Battlefield and at Lookout Mountain Battlefield. This year, our Chickamauga Battlefield Camp is schedule from June 24 - June 27 and will be a camp utilizing bicycles to get from place to place each day. Our Lookout Mountain Battlefield Camp is scheduled from July 16 - July 18 and will a hiking camp based out of Point Park, on Lookout Mountain.

Camp hours are 9 am - 1 pm; lunch is not provided, but there will be time for snacks. Campers are encouraged to bring snacks and water each day.

Various activities will include historically related scavenger hunts, biking and hiking to historic areas, activities associated with Native American, Civil War, and Modern history, sketching and drawing on Lookout Mountain, and more...

If you are interested in your child or children participating in this FREE summer day camp, please email chch_education@nps.gov for additional registration information.

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Sherman’s Crossing Paddle
Jun
21

Sherman’s Crossing Paddle

Join Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga and National Park Partners, who provide the opportunity for a FREE 2.5-hour guided kayak tour along the Tennessee River. This unique educational adventure begins just downstream of the confluence of the North Chickamauga Creek and follows the movements of US General William T. Sherman’s crossing in preparation to assault Missionary Ridge. The paddle continues down the Tennessee River lending views of Lookout Mountain and takes out in downtown Chattanooga. Outdoor Chattanooga provides the on water instructional guides, equipment, and shuttle.

Registration opens 2 weeks prior to the program and is required as space is limited to 10. Additional trip information will be shared after registration.

PADDLER REQUIREMENTS
Appropriate for ages 16 and up.  Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
No experience is necessary.  Paddler weight maximum is up to 250 lbs.  Equipment and instruction provided.  Lifejackets provided and required.

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Dead Men Do Tell Tales: Captain John Farquahr’s story
May
24

Dead Men Do Tell Tales: Captain John Farquahr’s story

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a 45-minute presentation discussing the story of Captain John Farquahr during the Battle of Chickamauga. Farquahr was a lively correspondent to his hometown newspaper, and this program will look at what he reported and went through during the battle. 

John Farquahr was a Scottish immigrant who settled in Chicago, where he found work as a newspaper editor. He enlisted as a private in the summer of 1862, eventually rising to the rank of captain, earning a Medal of Honor along the way. Through all of this, he kept up a steady correspondence back to Chicago and gave some graphic descriptions of what the men in the field were going through.

Please dress accordingly for the weather and a folding chair might be desirable.

For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch.

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A House Divided: The Intertwined Lives of Two Soldiers Named Samuel Kelly
May
10

A House Divided: The Intertwined Lives of Two Soldiers Named Samuel Kelly

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a program exploring the intertwined lives of two men named Samuel Kelly, both of whom experienced the Civil War fighting for very different purposes. This program will take place inside Point Park, on Lookout Mountain.


In April 1865, Captain Samuel C. Kelly, along with other members of the combined 20th/30th Alabama Infantry Regiments laid down their arms in North Carolina, signaling the largest surrender of a Confederate Army in the field. Not far away, another Samuel Kelly likely felt a much different experience associated with the surrender. Once enslaved by Captain Samuel C. Kelly, this Samuel Kelly ran away and joined the 44th United States Colored Infantry in Rome, Georgia. After being captured in October 1864, Captain Kelly reclaimed his escaped property and brought him along with the army as a servant, which is where the enslaved Kelly found himself as the enslaver Kelly laid down his arms in service to the Confederacy. We hope you will join us as we delve deeper into the intricate and intertwined lives of these two Samuel Kellys during and after the Civil War!

There is a $10 entrance fee per adult, ages 16 and older; children 16 and younger enter for free.

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Fire on the Farm: Artillery at the McDonald Place
May
10

Fire on the Farm: Artillery at the McDonald Place

Artillery demonstrations will occur at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
Each demonstration will last 30 minutes.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to experience the power of Civil War artillery as park rangers and living historians tell the story of artillery during the Battle of Chickamauga by providing public demonstrations at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center.

On the morning of Sunday, September 20, 1863, an unexpected frost covered the ground, and an ominous stillness filled the air. Then, a rebel yell was heard, shot and shell streaked across the field, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge changed front, and the battle shifted to the south. Late that afternoon as the Union left retreated across McDonald Farm, groans of wounded and thirsty men filled the air. Then, a rebel yell was heard, and the day closed just as it began – with shot and shell streaking across the field. We hope you will join us as we share the compelling stories associated with the “long arm” of the army – the artillery.

Cover photo by Tim Omarzu (CTFP)

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National Park Week Wrap Party
Apr
26

National Park Week Wrap Party

Wrap up National Park Week with a casual afternoon party, featuring music from the Rising Fawn Social Club! Tickets are free with any donation at the door (or give online in lieu of attending).

Learn more and RSVP a casual, family friendly, drop in anytime celebration HERE!

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The Ties that Bound Them: Indigenous Kinship in a Matrilineal Society
Apr
26

The Ties that Bound Them: Indigenous Kinship in a Matrilineal Society

  • Brown's Ferry/Old Federal Road Trace Trailhead (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

For those of us who typically trace our lineage, there is a strong patriarchal pull to our familial definitions. We often need not look any further than our own last names to stare down the proverbial barrel of how our families were established. However, indigenous peoples who lived on Moccasin Bend followed a different societal norm, namely one that traced kinship matrilineally, or through their female ancestors. During this program, we hope to learn some of the fundamental differences between these two ways of following our lineage and if one is necessarily more advantageous than the other.

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Be My Neighbor Day
Apr
26

Be My Neighbor Day

Come see NPP at WTCI’s Be My Neighbor Day! We will have kids’ activities, free stickers, and of course lots of information about how you can enjoy and support YOUR park! See you there!

Be My Neighbor Day is a family-friendly celebration that explores the ways we can be caring neighbors. This community event is inspired by the work of Mister Rogers, carried on today by beloved friends in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Engage community helpers, explore fun activities and find inspiration from your favorite PBS characters.

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