A history tour by car? Led by national park rangers? Sign me up!
I was so impressed by the ranger who led our caravan tour of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. He was engaging and knowledgeable and had a storytelling style that was both moving and provoked deeper thinking. We started at the Visitor Center and then loaded into individual cars to follow him to each of our stops. Nearly all the stops involved gravel or grassy areas, So wheelchair users will want to use a freewheel attachment or something similar if they have one available. Otherwise, you may need a helping hand. We covered a huge area, more than I realized at first.
In September of 1853, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of this battlefield. It marked the end of a Union offensive. Technically the South won the battle, but at a heavy price. They lost 20% of their soldiers, and because of this the battle is now referred to as “the death knell of the Confederacy”.
Our organized tour lasted two hours and at the conclusion, we returned to the Visitor Center to watch a documentary film and finish exploring. Fun fact: these battlefields became the FIRST national military park in 1890.
The Visitor Center was fully wheelchair accessible including the theater, the restrooms, and parking. It was about 20 minutes from our Southside Chattanooga Airbnb, and well worth the drive. If you enjoy learning more about the Civil War and are a history nerd like me, visiting the Chickamauga battlefield is a “must-do” while in Chattanooga.