Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

Even as someone who isn’t at all interested in visiting military-​related parks, museums, and monuments, I can appreciate how well done this place is. The park itself is huge — over 5,000 acres and the land that it sits on is actually quite lovely.
The day we went was cloudy with a little bit of light rain, but we were still able to do the self-​guided driving tour of the Chickmauga Battle Field with great ease. In between rain showers, we were able to walk along the monuments, which represented the location of the battle lines. Fiancé, who is obsessed with Civil War history, was blown away by the visual representation and immediately started talking out the battles and going over location strategy and a whole mess of nerdy nonsense. We both left the driving tour enjoying it more than we thought we would.
The park has free admission, and we were actually the only ones that we saw doing the actual driving tour. A lot of locals were using the park for biking, hiking, and running. It’s a great place for that. Mostly flat with well-​maintained roads, paths, and trails. Definitely an interesting place if you’re looking to mix up your routine. I believe they actually have a marathon/​half marathon/​5K around the battlefield in November, which fiancé and I are definitely looking into.
Our daughter enjoyed all of the open space that she could run around on outside, which made it a great visit for the whole family. If you’re looking for a budget-​friendly option in the Chattanooga area, this place is a great choice.

BLOWN AWAY! 5300 ACRES AND 600 MONUMENTS!
This National Military Park is the first and largest of its kind in the nation. It was authorized in 1890 and dedicated in 1895 to commemorate the Civil War Battles at Chattanooga and Chickamauga.
As we pulled up to this park, we realized that we were dealing with a totally different monster in terms of what it would take to actually walk through and visit the park. We started at the visitors center where we met some really great and knowledgeable staff.
The building is beautiful and has a great map that dominates the center of the lobby. There is a small gift shop to the right.
We decide that we need to start small and take baby steps so we take time to watch the documentary: «Battle for Chattanooga». It was great because in addition to the overall narration, the information was relayed from a soldier’s perspective which really personalized the story. I loved the graphics because you were actually able to see the movements of the troops, (depicted by their flags) and the strategies adopted during the conflict.
You definitely want to see this movie which only takes about 25 min. but gives you a good overview of the conflict.
After the movie, we spoke with the staff about the park and Civil War History. We purchased a passport book which contained information about the National Parks and we can have it stamped each time we visit. I just went in to get the lay of the land because I always purchase items and the end of my trip. This store is well stocked so I can’t wait to return.
On this day, we simply drove through the area, and pulled over to visit a couple of the more interesting monuments. I appears that each state who fought in the Atlanta campaign has erected a monument in honor if it’s fallen soldiers.
This is a huge park that has been beautifully maintained and we decided that we can not just rush through the property when we have already had a very long day. We will have a more thorough tour in a couple of days when we have more time to spend.
This park is open every single day except Christmas.
To be continued…
Edit: We return two days later and the first stop is the gift shop because I did not want them to close before we were done. I purchased table mats that had the Confederate Generals on one side and Union on the other, (because who doesn’t want to eat with the Generals), I had to get the mug and T-​shirt, and of course maps. The gift shop is well stocked and if I had time, I would have grabbed a book. They have DVDs available as well so that you can have a walking tour of the site, (2.5) hrs. However, you may access details of the tour using your phone and the number provided at the actual site.
As we made our way out to the field, we just decided to walk around and look at some of the impressive monuments. I noticed that every detail of this battle is documented. The markers will indicate the participants, their regiment, date and time, action and outcome. The red markers indicate specific positions and details regarding the Confederate soldiers and the blue markers address Union details. The care and attention given to even the smallest detail is impressive.
Imagine what it must have been like to be hungry, physically exhausted, demoralized and required to fight yet another battle, (after walking hundreds of miles with very little sleep). On the other side I imagine what it must have been like for families who were chased from their home only to have them and all of their possessions destroyed. We talk often about the battles but not forget the total devastation of entire communities. I have always heard the expression «War is Hell» and fully understanding what it entails, I certainly agree. This is so much more than just a lovely park or another tourist stop. It is certainly thought-​provoking.
The best way to see this massive field is on a special bike or by horseback if you want to be able to cover a great deal of distance with frequent stops. Remember this is 5300 acres and many of the monuments are deep into the woods so you really have to access them on foot of with a non-​motorized vehicle. We parked and walked quite a bit but that just isn’t the most effective way to go. Also, summer is best because you have a longer period of daylight to see as much as you can. The park is free and so is parking.
So go explore history and make some memories!

I am so glad I went to visit this historic site. So many civil war battles happened here. The NPS has gone to great lengths to mark each battle and where men fell. There is a lot of wildlife to see too. The film in the museum is educational and is a great place to start before you start your tour. The civil war gun collection in the museum is unbelievable. There is a guided tour at 10am and 2pm. No charge for anything, but they do take donations.

This is a national treasure. It reminded me of Gettysburg with all of the monuments dedicated to soldiers throughout the park. We started in the visitor’s center with a reenactment of a confederate soldier reading passages from a book and telling us stories about the war. We learned so much new information — things you know are true but history didn’t present it to us that way. Such as not all confederates wanted slaves, and many of them didn’t want to go to fight but wanted to stay home and protect their families. The actor was excellent — I would highly recommend any opportunity like this that National Park’s present. The film in the Visitor Center is quite good — it gives you an overview of the 3-​day battle and prepares you for your visit to the park itself. Also take time to walk through the exhibit in the visitor’s center. There’s quite an extensive gun collection, which my husband really enjoyed!
We listened to the phone apps during our drive through the park by dialing the number listed on the brochure — it helps keep you up to date on what happened where. There are several landmarks throughout the park as well — two cabins, remarkable statues, a tower — be sure to at least visit them.

One of the best battlefields I have ever visited. Driving tour was outstanding. The visitor center was great with the videos and gun collection. The ranger talks and tours are so informative. Really is a great experience.

Absolutely beautiful park. Loaded with wildlife as well as monuments that are not only educational but some are emotionally moving. When you’re standing there reading a monument about how many hundreds or even thousands of men fell at that spot, you can’t help but be touched.
The park is very family friendly. Running, bike riding, hiking, picnics are just a few of the things you can do without a motor. If you prefer an engine while enjoying the natural beauty, it’s a great place for a motorcycle ride or just roll the windows down in your car and enjoy!

Gotta hand it to the NPS, they’ve done a nice job preserving the historic battle sites. The 26 min film is worth the time to watch BEFORE you walk around/​drive the memorial fields. Truly appreciate all the efforts by the veterans of these battles for all they did to lay out significant movement locations that were key to how these battles progressed. To have survived this type of warfare with the exhaustive tedious reloading their weapons, simply amazing.
The Fuller Gun collection is a MUST see, inside the NPS history center. Once you see the weapons up close, it gives you a better perspective of how cumbersome these rifles must of been while traveling miles across the battles.
I learned so much from this trip — and my hubby is a military History instructor!
Chickamauga and Chattanooga are MUST-​SEE stops along your exploration of the US.
Please, drop a few dollars in the donation bins. The NOS and historical society spend tens of thousands trying to keep history preserved for all. Unfortunately many of the memorials originally placed in the late 1800’s are in need of repair due to weather/​aging and sadly, due to vandalism and theft. This is YOUR HISTORY AMERICA — please help to keep these sites viable for generations to come — to learn and pay respect.

Wow absolutely amazing and historic place visit. It is such an honor to walk on this land after so many have bled approximately 4,000 plus soldiers and many more, some gone missing. Cannons and memorial statues at all 3 tours, so much beautiful land. I personally felt heavy energy at some locations. Plenty of trails just be careful when it is muddy, you just might sink in, be prepared for good quality shoes, full charged mobile device along with back up sim cards for spectacular photography. Do some research on this historic sight, educate our youth who now spends most of their times watching reality TV garbage, this is what it’s all about, true history of what really went down on this preserved area. The community here is extremely nice and they do take pride in there city. Be sure to check out Ruby Falls on the second day as well. Definitely will be back!

Excellent battlefield! The second best behind Gettysburg in my opinion and I have been to many. The visitors center is nice with a very good short movie and gift store. The driving map is well organized and allows visitors to use their cell phones to call to hear a short explanation of what happened at each location on the battlefield. There are hundreds of cannon and statues to view. I did it in two hours and only skimmed the surface.

On the way to Texas, we stopped to play tourists at Chickamauga. My great-great-great-(how many?)-grandfather fought here and lost his arm to a cannon shot. Our family has pictures of him without his left arm so I couldn’t imagine driving by without a stop. And I was certainly glad that I did. My only regret was that we were on a time schedule and I couldn’t stay ginormous hours.
We took the driving tour as we waited for the visitor center to open. It was awesome looking at all the monuments. My only regret was that there were like 30 northern memorials for each southern one. What’s up with that? To the victors go the history? Seemed like a one-​sided remembarance to me.
We drove along and read some of the memorials. I know the battle fairly well so told the parts to my family as we drove along. It was super cool to see the actual terrain and how dense the woods could be. How open Kelly field was.
I started to listen to the Audio tour from the cell phone. This was unique and a very good use of technology. They just need a more enthusiastic voice. The person seemed like Farris Buehler’s teacher reading the roll. Interesting information if you could stomach the presentation.
A highlight was the Wilder tower. That was killer to climb to the top and look around. What a monument! Afterwards I started noticing some of the vandalism going around. Missing parts to monuments and bronze plaques /​pieces ripped off. Really? If the main road thru it wasn’t an open road which locals use to cross the area, I think this would be less abused. The Smokey Mountain National Park has a huge road that runs thru the middle of it allowing it to (legitimately?) claim to be the most «visited» park. I wonder if this access without fees helps to the criminal destruction and lack of funding that the park seems to suffer. Go ahead and drop some cash into the donation barrels so that they can take care of this park.
They had a tremendous gun collection as well. The Fuller gun collection. Not sure that it actually fits to the era that the park represents (the collection spans perhaps 200 years of firearms), but it was very interesting.
If you are nearby — stop. And spend more time than I did. Also, leave some donations so that they can preserve this place better.

First of all, admission is totally free. This is a Great Clvil War park with more than 600 stone and bronze monuments. They were erected by Chattanooga and Chickamauga veterans between 1890 and 1930 under the direction of Park Commissioners at that time. The funding was provided by the U. S Government, states, and veterans organizations.
Second, and most important I would recommend visiting the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center to begin your visit of the Park. The visitor center is open daily from 8:30 am to 5pm. Inside this building is a theatre that shows a 23 minute film of the Battle of Chickamauga. Also, while here, pick up your free brochure at the Park Rangers counter before heading out into the Park.
Now, one fact I learned is that this is the Nation’s first National Military Park. There are artillery battery monuments throughout the park as well as numerous canons on display. Also, there are metal tablet markers signifying Confederate soldiers or Union soldiers. The Blue is for the The Union Army and The Red is for Confederate Army.
One feature of this park is a 7 mile auto tour of the park. The tour stops are numbered 1 through 8 and you start by calling a phone number which is 585−672−2619 and clicking on the corresponding number depending on your location in the park.
As far as history is concerned, there were over 34,000 men killed or injured here on this battlefield. There were exactly 33,624 casualties on this battlefield. Of this number, there were 16,170 Union casualties and 18,454 confederate casualties.
One feature of this Battlefield you don’t want to miss is the Wilder Monument Tower. The monument tower is 85 feet high but there are 136 steps leading up to the top of the observation deck.
The Wildlife in the park is abundant. You can see deer every where like along the sides of the road as well as in the woods. I saw over 7 Eagles at the top of two trees beside each other.
Outdoor activities. Well, they have many. You can ride your bikes, ride horses, jog, walk, take pictures, fly your toy airplanes, look for wildlife, ride your motorcycle, and they have Civil War reenactments.
As far as reenactments are concerned, the Vice President has come here just for it. If he comes, they must be good. Just call or visit the visitors center for schedules.
In summary, Chickamauga Battlefield was the largest Confederate Victory in the Western Theatre. Stop at the Visitor center and watch the film and browse the gun museum. Then, get a brochure and drive the 7 mile auto tour route.

Well maintained and a great place to visit and soak in the history. There is much to look at we took our kids and had a good day. Wished we would have brought a packed lunch as the park is very nice. The staff is very helpful.

This is the most beautiful place to visit! We try to take a walk every time it’s a warm beautiful day! The steams just make it so interesting and the history is amazing!

Chickamauga Battlefield is the headquarters of the larger Chickamauga-​Chattanooga National Military Park; taken together, it comprises the largest military park in the nation, and as it was established in 1890, it’s also the oldest.
Chickamauga is located just south of the town of Fort Oglethorpe, about six miles outside of Chattanooga. The battlefield is 5,300 acres, most of it level and accessible, though it’s also heavily wooded.
Check out the visitors center first. It has a number of good exhibits, including informative wall panels and a 7-​minute fiber-​optic map. The park film debuted in November of 2012, replacing one that had been in use for over 20 years. The new film is 23 minutes long and of extremely high quality, giving both a military and a personal perspective. It’s realistically graphic at time — say, PG-​13 — so younger kids probably shouldn’t see it.
You’ll also see the Fuller Gun Collection, which isn’t the largest collection of historic military weaponry, but may be the best, as it has pieces dating from the colonial era up to World War One, all of them in pristine condition.
The battlefield itself can be toured with a self-​guided map and cell-​phone (ask the rangers at the desk) or with a longer CD from the bookstore. There are hundreds of monuments, markers and plaques; this is certainly one the most well-​marked battlefields around.
If you go in the summer, it’s easy to catch a free ranger-​guided tour. They generally run twice a day, but call ahead, as that can change from year-​to-​year. Also, these are car-​caravan tours, not the personal ranger-​in-​your-​car variety.
In the strictest sense, Chickamauga is a memorial park, its purpose being to commemorate the sacrifice of the soldiers who died on its fields. It was the second costliest battle of the Civil War. The museum and, especially, the park itself convey a moving sense of that sacrifice.

This park will provide an unforgettable experience for anyone who enjoys not just civil war history but military history and tactics as well. Numerous epic monuments can be found throughout the grounds, cannons abound, and an expansive, well landscaped battlefield will keep you busy for a day or more. This park has some of the most intricately knowledgeable staff I’ve encountered at a National Park. Not only is the enjoyment accessible to anyone, but as a maneuver officer, I enjoyed the presentations and opportunity to observe deeper into the tactics and developments of this battle as so much was taking place concurrently. With such wonderful facilities and staff, this is a «must see» for battlefield parks.

I am a Civil War buff and was quite excited to visit here a few weeks ago — the weekend before the 150 year anniversary of the battle. Since there were lots of people dressed in rebel gray with muskets throughout the battlefield rehearsing for the re-enactment…and since I was the only minority at the visitor center… I decided not to go walking around the park on my own like I was originally planning to do.
The movie at the visitor center was very nicely put together.

This is a beautiful national military park. Whether you go in the spring, summer, or fall, this is an excellent place to learn about America’s defining moment, the American Civil War. The park is located ten minutes south of Chattanooga across the border in Georgia.
Parking and admission is free. The rangers are very helpful. Ask any of them for guidance! The visitor’s center has an excellent 27 minute film that tells the story of Chickamauga and it’s importance not only as a battlefield, but the advent of modern historic preservation. This is a must see film that utilizes both the narrative of the battle alongside stories of everyday Americans caught up in this bloody battle. The Visitor’s center also houses a very impressive gun collection and a small but nicely done museum. There is also a small gift shop that sells all kinds of books and Civil War related items on the battle and the war in general. I’d figure to spend about 45-​an hour here.
The park itself is immactuly maintained and looks very much like it was in September of 1863. You really do feel as though you are walking through very hallowed grounds. That being said, respect this hallowed ground. This is not a city park but a place where 34,000 Americans fell.
Their are options for both a guided driving tour and walking tours. Depending on the time you have, both are great. Chickamauga is also an excellent place to tour the battlefield by bike as the roads are nicely paved. The battlefield itself is a beautiful collection of fields and woods that one can only wish would tell us their secrets about this place back in 1863. As the sun goes down, all kinds of animals come out. The deer offer such a tranquil irony to what was once a bloody spectacle. The park is very easy to navigate and I suggest anyone visiting this area dedicate at least a day to the immense history here.
Overall, one of my favorite national battlefield parks. It is wonderfulyl maintained and offers a vivid and sobering reminder to us all about what the Civil War means to us to this day and the immense sacrifices that were made here.

Expansive grounds have cannons, statuary and description, allowing for individual exploration and reflection. The Visitor Center is very well put together, with a store, helpful information desk staff, and docent-​led activities. Self-​guided displays at the Visitor Center are great, with artifacts and audio that bring this regretable American heritage to life. Before you come, check out the schedule of activities and plan to spend the better part of a day.

The first military park to commemorate a Civil War battle in the country, I believe. The visitor center is pretty sweet and one of the best parts of the park, surprisingly. Perhaps this was colored by the fact that it was raining all day and unlikely for us to get out of our cars during the tour. The cell phone tour was kind of a bust, and the battle sites are full of commemorative obelisks and markers, which don’t tell you anything about the battle aside for who fought in it and what state they were from. The museum and video were perhaps the coolest part, however, inside the visitor center. They explain the battle very clearly, perhaps better than any acre of woods or field can explain (although they do present nice visuals).

One of the best national parks in the South, and coincidentally one of the least appreciated. The park is both the largest protected battlefield in the country as well as one of the most scattered, being divided into two major units, the Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain, as well as numerous minor units scattered around Chattanooga: Missionary Ridge, three Watahauchie battlefield sites, Signal Mountain, and Orchard Knob. Each have their unique features that together make this park a rival of better known fields of valor like Antietam and Gettysburg.
The Battle of Chickamauga was the second bloodiest battle in the Americas (after Gettysburg) and is one of the greatest Southern victories of the war. Chickamauga is one of the creepiest battlefields that I have ever encountered, rivaling the legendarily haunted fields of Shiloh and Gettysburg. Like Shiloh, this battle was fought in the forest, creating a confusing maze of underbrush that at once makes understanding the fighting confusing and frighteningly claustrophobic. Everywhere there are Gothic statues, mortuary signs, and cannons, many peeking out of thick forest cover. Even on hot summer days, the battlefield is dark and brooding and quite lonely; you quickly grow to appreciate the normally-​annoying drive-​by-​tourists adding some human comfort in the tour stop areas. The visitor’s center is small but informative and has a very impressive collection of rifles ranging from the earliest ever developed in Europe to modern weaponry.
Lookout Mountain is quite famed in its own right but yet completely different from the freakiness of its sister unit. Lookout Mountain goes for romantic drama. Here was the location of the «Battle Above the Clouds», when Union troops drove off the besiging Confederate forces and planted Old Glory atop the highest point near Chattanooga. Arriving at Point Park you see the largest Army Corp of Engineers logo in the world, forming a gateway to the park itself. Here dozens of cannon rest, facing the city of Chattanooga and very clearly showing how effective the Union forces were bottled up there. It also makes a very popular photo stop. More statues are here as well, including the dramatic New York Monument, which has a Union and Confederate soldier shaking hands on top. Nearby trails lead downward past strange rock formations of Lookout Mountain and monuments embedded into the mountain itself. Personally, I appreciate the park best when it is foggy, like the conditions during the battle itself. The park is quite empty, and everything gets a comforting haze to it.
Missionary Ridge is the third major unit of the park, and is the least appreciated of the three. This, where Grant finally broke the Confederate siege on Chattanooga, has largely been lost to development, yet all around there are little parks, and statues and cannon still line Crest Road like a parkway. This is also the only place where I have seen cannons pointed directly at someone’s front door.
For the historical enthusiast, this part is essential for its role in American history. For the photography enthusiast, the mixture of dramatic views and close ups necessary in environments ranging from fields and mountains to statues in forests and creeks makes the park an interesting spot. For the casual tourist, Point Park looks great and is a good spot for the obligatory family shot though much of the historical information will probably quickly go over heads-​skip Chickamauga for its distance and creepiness factor.