Our particular story begins here, at the end of this mountain range, under the presence of one particular mountain. Here, a community of indigenous peoples named this mountain: Tsatanugi, or, as local lore has it, “rock coming to a point.”

For centuries, the Creek, Cherokee and Shawnee lived near this mountain, Tsatanugi, and the river that has flowed through this valley for ages, creating one of the most ecologically diverse and precious places on earth. As European settlers moved into the area, they renamed Tsatanugi, calling it “Chattanooga.”

The land turned into a settlement, then a city within an official state called Tennessee. 

Battles were fought. A people removed. Floods came. A downtown established. Twentieth-century industry arrived. 

Lookout Mountain

Chief John Ross established a trading port. Adolph Ochs started a newspaper, a predecessor to The New York Times.

The first Coca-Cola was bottled here. Painted barns encouraged folks to See Rock City.

Everyone began humming a favorite song: all aboard, Chattanooga Choo Choo …

Coca-Cola Bottling Company Chattanooga

Generations of entrepreneurs, artists, politicians, soldiers, athletes, maids and carpenters were born, served and died. Massive development and growth arose alongside generational poverty.

Smoggy Chattanooga

There was terrible pollution, smog so bad, folks said, you couldn’t see your hand before your face. In the 1970s, Chattanooga had been called the dirtiest city in America.

Walnut Street Bridge

Now, decades later, Chattanooga has been named the Best Outdoor City in America. Twice.

A nonprofit began hosting community meetings, with nearly 2000 people participating and voting on ideas to revitalize downtown and the riverfront. 

Riverpark Committee

“Nowhere, according to journalists and urban planners at the time, had such a process been attempted,” reported the Times Free Press.

A nonprofit began hosting community meetings, with nearly 2000 people participating and voting on ideas to revitalize downtown and the riverfront.

Riverpark Committee
Riverpark Committee

In the end, generosity and vision won the day. With one of the largest philanthropic gifts in our city’s history, Chattanooga unveiled the Tennessee Aquarium in 1992. Now, three decades later, our Aquarium was named the best in the US.

The Aquarium led our modern conservation movement, including efforts to restore sturgeon, brook trout and darters to their native range across the American South.

This was National Park City work before such a thing existed.

Chattanooga Grateful Dinner

We have some 3,000 nonprofits, a major university and hundreds of churches and spiritual communities, all of which work to uplift and strengthen the ties that bind this city together. 

Our identity has been shaped by brave vision, ingenuity and fortitude. The idea of an American military park was born here. Our steel mills manufactured armaments for WWII. The Tennessee Valley Authority – the nation’s largest public power utility – has its roots here. Moccasin Bend is America’s only national archeological district.

Today, Chattanooga’s placemaking transformation is the envy of cities across North America.

Once again, we bravely ask a new question:

What if we became North America’s first National Park City?

Chattanooga National Park City Project

Last year, the city of Chattanooga started a conversation with residents.

Would you want to participate in a campaign that celebrates, elevates and conserves the people, places, civic spirit and cultures that make Chattanooga and the Tennessee River Valley so unique and irreplaceable?

Community Meeting
Community Meeting
Chattanooga National Park City meeting

Our city is a park. Our stories are our strength. Everyone is doing the work.

National Park City: Chattanooga is already happening.

Across this region, people wake up every day and recommit to the precious preservation of this region. They are underground, everyday heroes doing National Park City work.

They’re building backyard native gardens, bluebird trails, bike-access corridors and Homegrown National Parks. This morning, city leaders consider how to give riverfront land back to the Cherokee. This afternoon, a group of Black teenagers will go mountain biking for the first time.

This evening? Disabled children will play in parks specifically designed for their needs.

Crabtree Farms