Chickamauga and Chattanooga
National Military Park

Our nation's first National Military Park, established in 1890, honors the Civil War soldiers that fought for control of Chattanooga at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 and the Battles for Chattanooga in November 1863. The park consists of over 8,200 acres spread over the Georgia/Tennessee border. Visitor centers are located at Chickamauga battlefield and at Point Park on Lookout Mountain. Chickamauga was considered the last major Confederate victory in the Western Theater, but it was a hollow victory as control of Chattanooga was ultimately gained by the Federals two months later. The Cravens House, a strategic location in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, is open on a limited, seasonal basis.

VISITATION:
Highest in July, lowest in January and February.

LOCATION:
Fort Oglethorpe, GA, and Chattanooga, TN.

ADDRESS:
Headquarters: Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP
P.O. Box 2128
3370 LaFayette Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

TELEPHONE:
(706) 866-9241

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Visitor Centers: Daily, summer: 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.; Daily, winter: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; closed December 25. Cravens House: Daily, Summer: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Weekends, Spring and Autumn: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is advisable to check with the Point Park Visitors Center, (423) 821-7786, for current schedules.

CLIMATE:
Summers are generally hot and humid. Winters are mild but damp.

DIRECTIONS:
Chickamauga Visitor Center is located off of U.S. Highway 27 in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Point Park Visitor Center is located on East Brow Road atop Lookout Mountain.

TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: access by Interstate Highways ( I-24, I-59, and I-75), and various US and State Highways. Chattanooga is serviced by an airport which has connector flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville.

In Park: At Chickamauga battlefield, bicycling is permitted on paved surfaces. For those who own horses, there is a horse unloading area and horse trails.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:
$2.00 fee is charged for Ages 18 to 61 for tours of the Cravens House. There is no charge for Ages 17 and under. Golden Eagle, Age, and Access passes are accepted. Donations are accepted with boxes available at both Visitor Centers, and the Cravens House. At the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, there is a 26 minute multi-media presentation. Rates are: Under 6-Free, Ages 6 to 16- $1.50, Ages 17 to 61- $3.00, and 62 and over -$1.50.

Point Park at Lookout Mountain has instituted a $2.00/day user fee.  An annual pass for the site will cost $20.00, the person that purchases the pass must be present to admit all members of a group.  The Golden Age PassPort and Golden Access PassPort admit users free into Cravens House and allows a 50% discount on entrance fee into the Park.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

• Visitor Centers, Exhibits: Chickamauga Visitor Center: Exhibits on the Battle of Chickamauga, the Fuller Gun Collection, a Civil War timeline, and a multi-media program depicting the Battle of Chickamauga.
• Point Park Visitor Center, Ochs Museum: Signaling exhibit and James Walker's Painting "The Battle of Lookout Mountain" are located in the Visitor Center. An audio program describing the painting is available at the Visitor Center. Ochs Museum in Point Park houses a soldier's exhibit as well as an exhibit of the dedication of the National Military Park.
• Trails: Several trails are available for walking/hiking at Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain.
• Auto tour tapes of the Chickamauga battlefield are available for rent or for purchase at the Chickamauga visitor center.
• Programs/Activities: During the summer season, daily walking and car caravan tours are offered along with living history rifle and signaling demonstrations. The Cravens House is open seasonally.
• Lodging and camping facilities: Not available in the National Military Park, with the exception of ten primitive campsites reserved exclusively for Boy/Girl Scout activities. A variety of hotels, motels, and RV camping sites are available nearby in the greater Chattanooga area.
• Food/supplies: Restaurants and grocery stores are available thoughout the greater Chattanooga area.
• Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities, and opportunities: Bookstores at Chickamauga Battlefield and Point Park Visitor Centers are managed by Eastern National.
• Accessibility: Wheelchairs are available for use at Chickamauga and Point Park Visitor Centers. On-site video tapes are available to view non-accessible areas of the park. TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf) is available for calls at the Chickamauga Visitor Center. Parking spaces for the disabled are located at both visitor center parking lots.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Touring the various areas of the National Military Park, day hiking on the numerous park trails.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations are required for a group guided tour of the battlefield areas. Reservations should be made at least two weeks in advance of the visit. Permits are required for various events including wedding ceremonies, religious services, and commercial filming. To request a permit, applicants should call the Superintendent's office at (706) 866-9241, or write to park headquarters.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Set aside at least two hours to tour the Chickamauga Battlefield area and at least one hour for the Point Park area. 30 minutes is required for a guided tour of the Cravens House.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
Each year special programs (guided tours of several battlefield areas, and Civil War encampments) are presented at Chickamauga battlefield and Lookout Mountain to commemorate the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. These events take place near the anniversary of the battles (September for Chickamauga, and November for Lookout Mountain). Near Christmas, a special program is held on a weekend at the Cravens House. Candlelight tours are presented of the house which is decorated in a Victorian era Christmas setting.   Several weekends during the summer, reenactment organizations present special demonstrations and Civil War encampments at Chickamauga battlefield and Lookout Mountain. For more information about specific dates and times for these special programs and events please call park headquarters: (706) 866-9241.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
The Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Hunter Museum of Art, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain Incline, The Battles for Chattanooga Museum, and Rock City are just a few of the numerous attractions located in the Chattanooga area.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Write Superintendent, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, P .O. Box 2128, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 or call (706) 866-9241.

The Climbing Management Plan for Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has been Completed with implemenation scheduled to begin on April 1, 1999.  Click on the above link to view the Climbing Plan and its associated documents.

Last Updated: August 13, 1998
URL=http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm