Civil War History 

Because of Chattanooga’s strategic location, flowing river and advanced rail systems, some of the hardest-fought and most complex Civil War battles happened during the fall of 1863 on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Chattanooga was considered the gateway to the Deep South and became an important location for both the Union and the Confederate armies. 

The Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park stands as the oldest and the largest military parks in the nation and was established through the efforts of Civil War veterans who came together from both armies in 1889. This Civil War battleground not only preserves, but also honors heroism, reconciliation, and national reunification.