Preservation of history important to region's future

Heritage tourism — promoting historical assets as visitor attractions — is thriving around the region, as officials increasingly are realizing that their areas’ futures may be in their histories.

Preservation of historic treasures in Northwest Georgia, Northeast Alabama and Southeast Tennessee is an important part of heritage tourism. From Civil War landmarks to 19th-century coke ovens, officials are preserving and promoting the area’s historic resources.

Many sites in the region are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is administered by the National Park Service and is the nation’s official list of places worth preserving.

The battlefields

The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is the nation’s first and largest such park. It comprises several units including the Chickamauga Battlefield, Missionary Ridge, Point Park and Signal Point.

The Lookout Mountain unit of the park recently received an addition of 382 acres, and park officials said the land’s preservation is very important, especially in a time of continuing development.

The Chickamauga unit of the park is 5,200 acres of monuments, historical markers and walking trails. Visitors can find major points of interest along a seven-mile audio tour. It was on the Chickamauga Battlefield that the Confederate army had its last major victory.

Battlefield officials said visitors come from across the nation to find places where their ancestors might have fought.

“The Civil War was one of the defining moments in this country’s history,” said Sam Weddle, spokesman for the park. “Not only because of the human suffering ... but because of the social implications.”

Mr. Weddle said many visitors come to experience the nation’s history, but also they want to learn about individuals and their stories.

Chickamauga city manager and historian John Culpepper said baby boomers have the means to travel during their retirement, and they want to see the country and experience history with their grandchildren.

Other areas of interest

Dunlap, Tenn., and Chickamauga, Ga., are home to historic coke ovens. Coke is a byproduct of coal that was used by the iron and steel foundries in Chattanooga during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Coke burns hotter, longer and steadier than coal and was used to produce the high temperatures needed for making steel and iron.

Dunlap historian Carson Camp said preserving the area’s links to the past, such as the coke ovens, is very important.

“It is better to reflect on your past and preserve it for everyone else to see it,” he said.

Mr. Culpepper calls his city the “Gettysburg of the South.” He has spent years working to create a quaint, historic feel for his town and its landmarks, such as Lee & Gordon’s Mills and the Gordon-Lee Mansion. Both were sites of Civil War action.

He also said Chickamauga and other areas in Northwest Georgia hold three histories. Stories of American Indians, black Americans and Civil War history can be found throughout the region, Mr. Culpepper said.

From the Marsh House in LaFayette, Ga., to Red Clay State Historic Area in Southeast Tennessee, there are different ways for visitors to take in the history. Tourists can visit specific locations, such as the Marsh House, or camp out where their ancestors did in historic parks.

Several sites in the area are dedicated to the Trail of Tears removal of American Indians in the 1830s from the Tennessee Valley to what is now Oklahoma.

In Bridgeport, Ala., re-enactors commemorate Civil War history each year with the Siege at Bridgeport re-enactment. All profits go toward historic preservation.

And around the region other festivals, such as Southeast Tennessee’s Cornbread and Strawberry festivals, give tourists a taste of regional culture. Annual events, such as Rhea County’s re-enactment of the Scopes Trial, also offer a glimpse into the area’s history.

Mr. Culpepper said historic preservation is important for many reasons. In addition to preservation for future generations, many in Northwest Georgia and across the state have started to capitalize on history as a tourism draw. He said heritage tourism is a clean industry and brings jobs to the area.

“It is historic preservation and economic development,” Mr. Culpepper said. “Tourism is the largest industry in the United States and the second-largest industry in Georgia, behind agriculture.”