There are three things that everyone thinks they have to do when they come to Chattanooga: Rock City, the Incline, and Ruby Falls. I have already written about Rock City and the Incline, so today I will tell you about Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is an excellent thing to do on a rainy day because …
From November 2015
Sunrises and Sunsets
One of the great joys of being parked where we are in Chattanooga is the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Every morning, over the misty field to the east, I watch the sunrise above the trees. I’m not sure how many pictures I’ve taken – each one seems more spectacular than the last. Every evening I …
Battle on Lookout Mountain
After capturing Orchard Knob on November 23, 1863, General Grant was ready to engage the Confederate army and advance the Union army out of Chattanooga. He instructed General Joseph Hooker to make a “demonstration” against Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain is a 100 mile long ridge that comes to a point just over Chattanooga and the Tennessee …
Grand Canyon of Tennessee: Tennessee River Gorge
Over the months Tom and I have been in Chattanooga, we have taken several opportunities to explore The Grand Canyon of Tennessee: The Tennessee River Gorge. The Tennessee River Gorge is a 26 mile stretch of the river cut into the Cumberland Plateau as it winds from Tennessee into Alabama. Prior to the completion of …
The Confederate Flag
One of the often-asked questions we get at the Visitors Centers is “Why don’t you have any Confederate flags?” This question is usually asked by people who are itching for a fight. But sometimes it is just asked out of curiosity – after all, we are a military park where the battle was between the …
Tennessee Aquarium
On a rainy day a few weeks ago, Tom and I spent a day at the Tennessee Aquarium. We had heard from lots of people about how wonderful the Tennessee Aquarium was, so we decided to check it out for ourselves. I must begin by saying that Tom and I are not huge fans of …
Lost and Found
Last week when Tom and I were homeward bound after our short road trip, I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I unbuckled my seat belt and searched through the back seat. It wasn’t there! I asked Tom if he had carried it out from our hotel room. No, and neither had …
The Battle of Orchard Knob
When we last left our armies, the Union army was stuck in Chattanooga and the Confederate army was placed in a perimeter atop Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and with picket lines in a line between outside Chattanooga. The Union army had opened a supply line and was getting food and reinforcements. The Confederates were cold …
Seen at the Visitors Center
Sometimes Tom and I see strange and unusual things at the Visitors Center. One day last week we had 300 school children in the building in the morning. That was a little unusual – the number, not the school children. We often have school groups visiting the Chickamauga Battlefield. When the school groups are visiting …
Shiloh National Military Park
While Tom and I were on our recent road trip, we stopped by Shiloh National Military Park. Shiloh was part of the western theater of the Civil War and was one of the first big battles, taking place in April 1862. It is also cited as the battle that taught Americans that the Civil War …