Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in the state of Tennessee and the county seat of Hamilton County.

The location was occupied by native Americans for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In the year 1776 a Cherokee named Dragging Canoe left the main tribe and relocated himself downriver in an effort to establish Native American resistance to the encroaching Europeans.

Ironically, it was a man of mostly European descent that would take up the cause of Cherokee rights. He was John Ross of Alabama, a well educated man who would one day become their chief! He was one-eighth Cherokee. In 1816 Ross established Ross Landing, which survived until the forced relocation of Native Americans to Oklahoma in 1838, the Tail of Tears. In time, Ross Landing became Chattanooga. Ross continued dialogue after dialogue on behalf of his Native American friends. He died on august 1, 1866.

During the Civil War, after a Union bombardment of Chattanooga, the Union army entered and occupied the city on September 9, 1863.

The Battle of Chickamauga started in nearby Georgia, along Chickamauga Creek on September 19, 1863. The battle itself was a moving battle, with heavy action in one spot, then later another, all the while traveling northward along Chickamauga Creek toward Chattanooga. The defeated Union army retreated to Chattanooga, effectively ending the Union’s Chickamauga Campaign.

From Chattanooga, Major General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union army ordered an attack on the Confederate forces at Orchard Knob on November 23, 1863. On November 24, the Battle of Lookout Mountain was fought, resulting in a Confederate loss. The Confederates were driven off Lookout Mountain. On November 25, Grant’s troops attacked the Confederates on Missionary Ridge with success. The three battles fought in three days would become known as the Battles of Chattanooga. The Union’s successes during this time laid the groundwork for the Atlanta Campaign, which was begun in spring of 1864.

DID YOU KNOW?

While Coca Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia, it was first bottled commercially in Chattanooga!

Moon Pies were invented in Chattanooga!

Krystal Hamburgers were invented and first served in Chattanooga.

Lookout Mountain's Incline Railway is the steepest railroad in the world!