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National military park drives economy, preserves history, land

By: Chloé Morrison

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Just outside Chattanooga is the country's oldest and largest national military park: the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

About a million visitors a year come through the park, spokesman Sam Weddle said.

The park is made up of three major areas: Chickamauga Battlefield, Lookout Mountain Battlefield and the Moccasin Bend Archaeological District.

In addition to preserving history and land, the national park has a large impact on the economy.

"The park is one of the primary attractions in the area," Mr. Weddle said. "The park is certainly an economic engine."

Chickamauga Battlefield was the scene of the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War.

Lookout Mountain Battlefield is the location of the famed "Battle Above the Clouds."

The newest area of the park is Moccasin Bend, where a new interpretive center is planned. Amenities for the center include an interactive museum, theater lectures, audio-visual presentations and classroom space. It also will be connected to downtown Chattanooga through the Riverwalk and water taxis.

Officials have secured $500,000 to begin the design of the interpretative center.

Park leaders also are working on a 20-year management plan, which will help them outline goals for the park.

Mr. Weddle said tourists can enhance their visits by stopping at the visitor centers, which have information about tours, maps and literature on the area's history.

"They need to have information to get the most out of it," he said.

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War begins in 2011, and cities surrounding the battlefield that also have rich history, such as Chickamauga, will have events to commemorate the War Between the States.

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