Upcoming Events
Park Day Cleanup at Browns Tavern
We will meet at the parking lot adjacent to Browns Tavern, next to Lookout Valley Elementary School. The street address is 705 Browns Ferry Road. The site is one mile north of I-24 Exit 175 on Browns Ferry Road.
Planned Activities
We will do brush clearing and limb trimming on the lot surrounding Browns Tavern. Browns Tavern is the oldest building in Hamilton County, dating back to 1803. Brush will be moved to Browns Ferry Road for subsequent pickup by the City of Chattanooga.
History or Educational Activities
Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park Historian Jim Ogden will discuss both the Civil War as well as the Cherokee history associated with Browns Tavern.
Should I bring any tools or supplies?
Yes. Volunteers need to bring their own work gloves as well as tools such as loppers and saws for cutting brush and limbs. Also, bring plenty of water.
Is there a rain date?
In the instance of inclement weather, Park Day will be moved to Saturday, March 15.
Seminar in the Woods: Chickamauga
Seminar in the Woods: Chickamauga, March 7—8, 2025
Mission Statement: The purpose of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Study Group is to create a forum to bring students of the American Civil War together to study and explore those events in the fall of 1863 that led ultimately to the creation of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, as well as explore other nearby Civil War-related sites.
Tour Leaders: Jim Ogden and Dave Powell
Date: Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, 2025; By bus and car caravan.
Friday’s tour will begin and end at the History Company, 2949 LaFayette Road, just north of the Chickamauga Park north entrance.
Saturday’s tours will begin and end at the CCNMP Visitor’s Center.
Bus – Friday all day, 8:30 to 5:00 p.m.: Bragg’s Lifeline—The Western and Atlantic RR
We will travel to Marietta, Resaca, Dalton and other points to discuss the importance of the W&A to Confederate operations, and why it was the crucial focus of two years of war.
Friday evening, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Q&A Panel with Jim Ogden, Dave Powell.
Site: TBA, Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Reprise of the Annual free-form Question and Answer session.
Car Caravan – Saturday Morning, 8:30 to Noon: Palmer and Van Cleve, missed chances?
John M. Palmer’s division of the 21st corps was sent north on the morning of September 19th to coordinate with Thomas, and ended up in action east of Brock Field. Van Cleve was sent to his support. These two divisions were potentially very powerful force positioned to envelop Cheatham’s flank, but ultimately they were checked, and then in Van Cleve’s case, routed from the field.
Break for lunch
Car Caravan – Saturday Afternoon, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Bushrod Johnson and Mendenhall’s gun line, North Dyer Field
As Bushrod Johnson’s battle line emerged into Dyer Field, he was presented with a confounding sight—Federals fleeing in seemingly every direction. A line of Union artillery, apparently unsupported, was deployed on the far side of the field. We will examine the Confederate effort to assault and ultimately overrun these guns.
Costs:
Friday’s Tours will be by Bus. Pre-registration and Fee required: $60, due by February 1, 2025.
Sign-up after February 1 or on-site Fee (based on space available): $65.
Saturday: no charge.
The fee increase is due to the increased expense of the bus, which is now $1,800 per day. Fees raised in excess of costs (as well as any donations) will be used to support the causes of battlefield preservation, interpretation, and renovation.
In 2023 the Study Group made the following donation:
$500 to the Jewell Monument fund, run by the Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, for maintenance and restoration needs.
I anticipate a similar donation in 2024, but given the increased cost of the bus, I have elected to wait and make sure I can cover that cost.
Send to (and make checks payable to):
David Powell
522 Cheyenne Drive
Lake in the Hills IL 60156
You may also send money via Paypal to dpowell334@aol.com
Note: Your cashed check or acknowledgement from my concerning the Paypal payment confirms your reservation on Friday’s bus.
This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE after February 1st, 2025. Once we are committed to the bus, we will be charged the booking fee, and unable to cancel.
Please note that everyone is responsible for their own lodging, meals, snacks, and incidentals.
Weather note: Two years ago, we had snow on Saturday but did not cancel. We are a (fool)hardy bunch, we go rain or shine. Dress accordingly.
National Park Week
Love national parks? There's a holiday for that! Join us for National Park Week, a nine-day celebration of everything "parks". Also discover what the National Park Service does through our programs and partners to preserve natural and cultural heritage and provide recreational opportunities in places across the country—and even the world!
National Park Week is happening April 19 to April 27 this year. Entrance fees at Point Park will be waived on April 19, 2025, to kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national park in person. National Park Service parks, programs, and partners will host events and activities all week! Follow National Park Week on social media and join the fun all week using #NationalParkWeek.
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.
The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
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.
The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
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.
The Rita Vita Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
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.
NPS: Dragging Canoe and the War Within a War
On Saturday, February 1, at 2 pm, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide a 30-minute presentation discussing Dragging Canoe and his Chickamauga Cherokees in the Cherokee War of 1776 and beyond. This program will be conducted at the Gateway Site, in Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, at 10 Hamm Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. Please dress accordingly for the weather, and participants may also wish to bring folding chairs.
The Henderson Treaty of 1776 was one treaty too far for Cherokee leader Dragging Canoe. Seeing more broken promises, the loss of more land, and the fall of his people, he promised that the colonization of this ground would be “dark and bloody.” He kept his promise, and the following years would see the southern frontier burn and bleed. To learn more about this often-overlooked story and the important role played by Dragging Canoe, please join a park ranger for this special program.
Please plan accordingly as detours, one-lane roads, etc. may be encountered along Hamm Road due to Chattanooga’s Manufacturers-Hamm Road Gateway Construction Project.
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
Annual MLK Day of Service
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Seeks Volunteers for Annual MLK Day of Service
Join in as volunteers from across the country take part in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 20, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge (2300 Lightfoot Mill Road, Chattanooga, TN).
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park proudly joins the nation as we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy of service by conducting a cleanup and trail maintenance at the 73rd Pennsylvania Reservation. The MLK Day of Service encourages all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the annual service event since Congress designated the MLK holiday the first ever National Day of Service.
Volunteers are asked to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and outdoor work that they do not mind getting dirty. Also, volunteers should wear sturdy, close-toed shoes or boots, NO flip-flops. All tools and supplies will be provided. Volunteers may want to bring a water bottle and snacks.
For more information regarding this project, you may contact volunteer coordinator Will Wilson at 706-866-9241 x137 or at will_wilson@nps.gov
You Take Command: Wargaming the Battle of Chickamauga in Miniature
On Saturday, January 18, at 12:30 pm, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host an interactive, 3-hour, miniature wargame of the Battle of Chickamauga that will take place at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. Up to 10 participants can take command of portions of the Federal and Confederate armies, making decisions and maneuvering military miniatures across a 3-dimensional tabletop battlefield as they seek to overcome some of the challenges faced by commanders during the real battle in September 1863.
Participants will determine the outcome of the battle as they each take on the role of an army, corps, or division commander during the climactic fighting at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. Players will work together using easy-to-learn rules to coordinate desperate assaults or spirited defenses to achieve victory. Dice rolls and event cards will help to determine the effects of combat, command and control, and the fog of war. If you would like to view the Battle of Chickamauga from a fresh perspective, or if you are interested in exploring the hobby of historical miniature wargaming, this program is for you!
No miniature wargaming experience is necessary, and children are welcome to participate with an accompanying adult. To reserve a spot for this event, contact ranger Luke Dixon at luke_dixon@nps.gov.
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.
Winter Vistas: Poe Field - “We Bury Our Dead”
On Saturday, December 21, at 2 pm, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a special 90-minute, less than 1-mile, ranger-led hike exploring the fighting that swirled around the farm of Larkin Poe on September 19 and 20, 1863. This program will begin at the Chickamauga Visitor Center, then car caravan to Poe Field, where the walking tour will begin.
The fighting in Poe Field was some of the most dramatic open field fighting of the battle, with multiple charges by Confederate forces across the field against strong Union positions. Join us as we take advantage of the lack of foliage to see the ground better and gain insights into these events of 1863.
Please make sure to dress appropriately for conditions and wear comfortable shoes.
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.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
The 6888th Central Postal Battalion: Facing Two Fronts During World War II
On Saturday, December 14, at 2 pm, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a 1-hour ranger-led program that will take place at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. The program will begin in the visitor center then move outside. Participants are urged to dress for the weather and bring a chair and a bottle of water.
Have you heard about a special group of ladies during World War II who faced great odds to serve their country? Not only has their story been in the news recently, but now their story is being shared in select theaters around the country.
The 6888 th Central Postal Battalion was the only predominately all African American female battalion to go overseas during World War II. Their mission was to get a two-year backlog of mail out to the soldiers stationed on the front lines. These soldiers faced extreme prejudice from the time they entered the army. However, the prejudice they faced at home was nothing compared to what they faced in the European Theatre of Operations. We invite you to come and hear about these soldiers who faced unimaginable racism during their training at Fort Oglethorpe and how they faced it during the rest of their tour of duty.
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.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov
161st Anniversary of the Battle of Ringgold Gap
Details to be announced pending NPS press release. Subject to change.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National MIlitary Park, please contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241 or the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786. You may also wish to visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
161st Anniversary of the Battles for Chattanooga
Details to be announced pending NPS press release. Subject to change.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National MIlitary Park, please contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241 or the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786. You may also wish to visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
2024 Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series #3
Victorian Christmas Tradition of the Civil War
Kelly Hancock from the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA brings a special program to the MBLS to kick off the holiday season! Christmas today is far removed from what it was in the mid-19th century, yet it was during that period that many of our current-day traditions developed. Discover the origin of some of the most beloved elements of Christmas and hear accounts of Civil War Christmases.
All MBLS events are FREE and open to the public; registration is required due to limited seating. Click HERE to secure your ticket today!
2024 Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series #2
National Trail of Tears Association Conference Keynote
Join NPP as we welcome the National Trail of Tears Association Conference to Chattanooga and combine our Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series with the conference keynote address, delivered by Jay Hannah of the Cherokee Nation.
All MBLS events are FREE and open to the public; registration is required due to limited seating. Click HERE to secure your ticket today!
27th Annual National Trail of Tears Conference & Symposium
When: October 14-16, 2024
Where: Embassy Suites, 2321 Lifestyle Way, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Conference Room Rate: $162. 98 (includes all taxes and fees) Hot breakfast, evening snacks and drinks come with the room.
The National Trail of Tears Association brings its annual National Trail of Tears Conference to Chattanooga this year, sponsored by NPP and CCNMP. This event will coincide with the 20th anniversary of Moccasin Bend National Archeological District becoming part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
2024 Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series #1
From Shiloh to Fort Pillow: Preserving Tennessee's Civil War History
The 2024 Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series kicks off with Dr. Timothy Smith from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Join NPP for a travel through time as the Civil War raged across Tennessee from 1861-1865; followed by efforts to memorialize the places where history happened through battlefield preservation.
All MBLS events are FREE and open to the public; registration is required due to limited seating. Click HERE to secure your ticket today!
161st Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga (NPS)
Details to be announced pending NPS press release. Subject to change.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National MIlitary Park, please contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241 or the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786. You may also wish to visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
National Treasures: Party at Point Park 2024
Mark your calendars, National Treasures returns in 2024! We are looking forward to another fabulous evening for the Party at Point Park.
Tickets available now!
Each ticket includes dinner, drinks, entertainment, Umbrella Rock photos, and entry into our drawing for "gate" prizes!*
$100 = one (1) ticket to the 2024 Party at Point Park
$250 = “young family” ticket for two (2) adults and up to four (4) children age 12 and under. Ages 13 and up will need their own ticket.
Special "Honored Guests" tickets are available for $500, which includes four (4) tickets + recognition in the event program and our annual newsletter.
Special "Host Partners" tables are available for $1,000 which includes eight (8) tickets at a reserved table + recognition in the event program and our annual newsletter.
Proceeds support the mission of National Park Partners: to conserve the natural, historic, and cultural resources of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District; and to engage current and future generations in preserving and promoting the stories of these National Treasures.
This year marks our 16th annual celebration, and our theme is “Protect YOUR Park” in memory of former board member of the Friends of Moccasin Bend and beloved community leader, Mrs. Beth Wamp. When Beth passed away last year, her family requested donations to National Park Partners in keeping with her longstanding efforts to preserve and protect the tremendous historic and cultural resources of Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. Please join us in honoring her memory and continue growing the legacy of the National Park as she did!
CAM RUN 5K
The annual Cam Run is a family-friendly activity honoring the memory of Cameron Bean, a young Chattanoogan whose life was tragically cut short while running on Moccasin Bend Road in 2015. Cameron always encouraged folks to "just go for a run" and his motto lives on as the course takes racers through the natural beauty of Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. Special thank you to the Cameron Bean Memorial Fund and the Chattanooga Track Club for including National Park Partners in this special day!
The Cam Run 5K is a fast, out-and-back 5K that starts at the scenic Moccasin Bend Archaeological Preserve and goes down Moccasin Bend Road.
Following the 5K is The Magnum Mile—sponsored by On—Chattanooga’s fastest track event of the year and the perfect ending to an already amazing day! This year’s event features the Magnum Mile Invite (middle school and high school athletes), the Magnum Mile O.G. (top 25 male & female groups from the 5K), and the Magnum Mile Elite for competitive athletes.