Chattanooga Itinerary for History Buffs: 1-3 Day Guide to Iconic Sites

Chattanooga is a must-visit for history enthusiasts, offering a remarkable concentration of events from Paleolithic Native American settlements to Civil War battles and the heyday of railroads. Explore the city's premier historical attractions below.

Where to Stay:
Immerse yourself in history with these accommodations. The Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel, a transformed train station operational from 1909 to 1970, captures railroad heritage. The romantic Bluff View Inn occupies three turn-of-the-century homes once belonging to Chattanooga's elite. The Read House, opened in 1926 and renovated in 2018, blends architectural grandeur with local legends.

1 DAY
Morning:
Begin with Chattanooga's historical overview via a riverboat cruise along the Tennessee River Gorge, a key factor in the city's 10,000-year prominence. Spot wildlife and learn about early Native American inhabitants. Alternatively, Chattanooga Ducks offers a family-friendly amphibious tour.

Visit Ross's Landing (Trail of Tears origin), the Riverwalk (featuring Civil War sites), The Passage (tribute to local tribes), and the Walnut Street Walking Bridge (built 1890).

Afternoon:
Explore Chattanooga's Southside, once the financial center, now vibrant with eateries, shops, and galleries in repurposed warehouses. Terminal Brewhouse occupies the 1909 Stong Building, a former hotel for train travelers. Urban Stack, a gourmet burger spot, resides in the historic Southern Railway Baggage Building.

After lunch, tour the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel for rail history. Art lovers should browse Southside galleries along Main Street.

Evening:
Dine in the Bluff View Art District, where historic homes of early 20th-century magnates ('cliff dwellers') host exceptional cuisine: homemade pasta at Tony's, shrimp and grits at Back Inn Café, or desserts at Rembrandt's. Revitalized in the 1990s by Dr. Charles and Mary Portera, it's a European-style enclave. End with Chattanooga Ghost Tours at the haunted Hunter Museum of American Art or a ride on Chattanooga Horse Trams.

2 DAYS
Morning:
Delve into Civil War history on Lookout Mountain's 'Battle Above the Clouds.' Ascend via the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway to Point Park, site of Union forces' foggy ascent. Visit the Battles for Chattanooga visitor center, featuring a 33x13-foot mural by eyewitness James Walker and audio exhibits.

Afternoon:
Lunch at Café 7 in Rock City Gardens (April-October; admission required) offers Southern fare with Lover's Leap views. Rock City has drawn visitors since the Great Depression; nearby Ruby Falls, a 145-foot waterfall discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, adds intrigue.

Evening:
Hike to the historic Cravens House (2-hour roundtrip) or enjoy sunset at Point Park. Dine on the mountain or return downtown (15 minutes).

3+ DAYS
Morning:
Visit Chickamauga Battlefield, the Union's worst Western Theater defeat and the nation's oldest, largest military park. Join ranger tours (10 a.m./2 p.m., 2 hours; daily spring/summer, weekends winter) or self-guided cell-phone drives (1.5-3 hours).

Afternoon:
The 6th Cavalry Museum showcases the 'Fighting Sixth' from Civil War to Spanish-American War eras, with artifacts from its Fort Oglethorpe station (1919-1942). In downtown Chickamauga, see Gordon-Lee Mansion, Coke Ovens, and Crawfish Spring; lunch locally amid boutiques and antiques.

Evening:
Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant serves cherry wood-smoked BBQ, sides, and filet mignon with live music.

For extended stays, explore:
In Town:
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
200 East Martin Luther King Boulevard, 423-266-8658

Chattanooga National Cemetery
1200 Bailey Avenue, 423-855-6590

International Towing and Recovery Museum
3315 Broad Street, 423-267-3132

Moccasin Bend Archeological District
Three-mile trail near downtown, GPS: 35.03813, -85.337763

Brainerd Mission Cemetery
5700 Eastgate Loop, Eastgate Shopping Center

Audubon Acres
900 North Sanctuary Road, 423-892-1499

A Short Drive Away:
Falcon Rest Mansion and Gardens, McMinnville, TN
931-668-4444

A Tennessee Guest Ranch, Dunlap, TN
423-554-4677

Red Clay Historic State Park, Cleveland, TN
423-478-0339