If you live in North Georgia or South Tennessee, chances are that at some point or another you have heard of the Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park, or as the locals refer to it, the Chickamauga Battlefield. This National Park is located just South of Chattanooga and is nestled between several North Georgia towns such as Fort Oglethorpe and the parks namesake, Chickamauga. It was the site of one of the pivotal battles of the American Civil War. It was where the Union attempt to capture Chickamauga and advance South was stopped by the Confederate army in one of their last great victories (Chattanooga was captured soon afterwards by the Union). Today the park is known for its great walking trails and the memorials from the battle that decorate its fields and forest. As an avid explorer of the Battlefield, I would like to give you a locals guide on five fun things to do next time you visit.
1. The Visitor Center
If you are entering the Battlefield from Fort Oglethorpe you will be immediately greeted by the Visitor Center. A visit to the large and elegant building is a must for any civil war enthusiast. Inside you can find countless artifacts collected from the Battlefield ranging from scraps of soldiers clothing to legitimate cannons! You can see how the battle of Chickamauga occurred through videos and interactive maps. The Visitor Center also functions as a museum with it containing a massive collection of firearms from all times of history. It is a great start to your visit to the park before you hit the trails, or a good spot to cool off after a hike.
2. Walking the Trails
The Battlefield is crisscrossed by miles of well-kept walking and horse riding trails with easily identifiable markers to ensure that those exploring do not get lost. The nature lover in you will have a wonderful time taking in the pure solitude of a hike along these trails. The Battlefield is home to all kinds of animals ranging from birds like turkeys and hawks to larger creatures like deer and coyote. During my last hiking trip I managed to stumble across the empty shells of several box turtles on a dry creek bed, one of them is now a prized souvenir. Be careful as you trek! Georgia summers can be extremely hot and humid so you should always bring plenty of water. Ticks can also be a problem so it is recommended to avoid tall grasses, wear darker clothes and use bug spray if possible.
3. Checking out the Landmarks
There are hundreds of landmarks throughout the park that mark important spots from the battle and supply visitors with information on the struggle that took place. Many of them act as markers and memorials for specific divisions of the war from both sides. As you walk I highly recommend you stop to look at them and read their plaques. Games can even be made out of the landmarks with groups of people using them in scavenger hunts. History buffs can use them as they hike to actually follow the events of the battle and become a part of the History.
4. Stopping by the Tower
After your hiking you will probably want to find a place to stop and just sit down. The place I recommend for this is Wilder Tower, located on the opposite side of the Park of the Visitor Center. This stone tower is 85 foot tall and yes, the walk to the top of its spiraling staircase can be a bit of a work out. It is a cool and shaded spot though unlike most of the park so stopping to sit on the steps for a snack is an excellent idea. Once you reach the top of the tower you are at my favorite place in the Park. You have a bird's eye view of the entire Park with the grass waving below like the ocean when the wind blows. You can see other landmarks of the region such as lookout mountain and even the lights of Chattanooga and the nearby towns as the sun starts to set over the park.
5. Treasure Hunting
Keep in mind that this was a legitimate Battlefield. The miniballs, weapons and other military equipment at the Visitor Center are by no means replicas. Most of them came right out from the ground you are now walking on. So as you walk the trails make sure to keep an eye open for any treasures from the past. Miniballs from rifles that were fired and missed or the buttons from uniforms are pretty easy to come by. Stumbling across canteens, the barrels of guns, bayonets and even cannonballs is not unheard of. Of course make sure to follow all laws though! Using metal detectors in the park is ILLEGAL. Anything you find should be donated to the Visitor Center so that it can be used for display to generate more funds to keep the Park open for others to enjoy.
