Upcoming Events
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The Importance of the Colors and Color Bearers at Chickamauga
"Let the Rebels take me but save the flag!"
"A Hurricane of Shot and Shell" - 5th Indiana Battery versus the Polks
"A Hurricane of Shot and Shell"
National Trails Day on the Scenic Bluff Trail on Lookout Mountain
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the American Hiking Society, and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition are looking for volunteers to participate in National Trails Day!
Torchlight Tour of Chattanooga National Cemetery
The tour will begin at the old cemetery entrance arch in the southwest section of the cemetery at 8:45 pm. The program will involve about a mile of walking over the rolling grass-covered grounds and will last approximately 90 minutes.
Shot and Shell Belching from the Heights - Garrity’s Alabama Battery
Park rangers and living historians from Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present artillery firing demonstrations inside Point Park, part of Lookout Mountain Battlefield.
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.
First Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Tour of 2025
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will continue its free, historical bike tours through Chickamauga Battlefield.
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.
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)
Road Construction to Begin in Chickamauga Battlefield on Brotherton Road
Road Work in Chickamauga Battlefield from May 6 - Oct. 30.
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!
The Ties that Bound Them: Indigenous Kinship in a Matrilineal Society
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.
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.
Silver Adventures History Hike at Craven's House
For Park lovers age 50+ we are partnering with Outdoor Chattanooga to offer a guided history hike near Craven’s House. View the event for more details and to register (REQUIRED).
The Works Progress Administration + the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center
Completed in 1936, the iconic structure that became Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center was far more than a beacon for visitors. It was a blessing for a beleaguered population. We hope you will join us for this special program as we explore history of the building that hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors and residents drive past each day.
Chattanooga National Park City* Party
You’ve heard the news—Chattanooga is officially America’s First National Park City! Now it’s time to celebrate in a big way! Hosted by Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors to kick off Earth Week, the celebration on the Chattanooga Green (right across from Ross’s Landing and the Tennessee Aquarium) includes a FREE concert that’s all about music, dancing, and community!
Visit the Chattanooga National Park City website for more details.
Brushstrokes on the Battlefield
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host a ranger-guided, 2-hour Civil War miniature painting class at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center to celebrate Junior Ranger Day and the kickoff of National Park Week.
The “Rhea County Spartans” and Other Roles Women Played During the Civil War
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide a 45-minute presentation focusing on the story of the “Rhea County Spartans” and other roles women played during the Civil War. Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center (3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742) before traveling onto the battlefield. Please dress accordingly for the weather, and a folding chair might be desirable.
The roles associated with the Rhea County Spartans and other women have largely been forgotten within the history of the American Civil War. Women endured the heartbreak and loss of loved ones during this war, but what roles did they play as active participants? We encourage you to join a park ranger for this special presentation as we explore the experiences of women from 1861 to 1865.
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.
Women in War: Dangerous Work to Support the Cause
In honor of Women’s History Month, this program will explore the work in and the conditions of arsenals in which women were required to work during the Civil War.
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty: Chickamauga's Medal of Honor Recipients
Acts of valor were not uncommon during the fighting at Chickamauga, but what acts went above and beyond the call of duty which led to awarding the Medal of Honor?
Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Orphan Brigade
On Saturday, March 8, at 2 pm, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide a 45-minute presentation discussing the story of men of the famed 1st Kentucky Brigade, or Orphan Brigade as it has come to be known, and their experiences during the Battle of Chickamauga. Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center before traveling out onto the battlefield. Please dress accordingly for the weather and a folding chair might be desirable.
The Orphan Brigade left an impressive record across many battlefields of the Western Theater. At Chickamauga, they suffered more than many other units. To hear the story of these Confederate Kentuckians, we encourage you to join a park ranger for this special talk.
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.
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.
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.
