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Chickamauga: Officials gear up for next big Civil War anniversary

By: Chloé Morrison
(Contact)

Included in this article

Paul Archambault

Just as one Civil War commemoration ends, officials in the tri-state area are turning their focus to the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States, which begins in 2011.

“There is a lot of interest in the war. It touched a lot of people’s lives,” said John Culpepper, Chickamauga city manager and historian who helped plan the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga.

The battle commemoration ended Sunday, and organizers called it a “rousing” success although official attendance was not yet available Monday. Organizers had expected 20,000 to 50,000 people to attend.

Now, officials in Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama are looking toward the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, 2011-2015, and expect the region’s historic sites will attract heritage tourists during the four-year anniversary period.

fighting for the rails

Officials with the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association have plotted dozens of historic sites on a driving tour and have produced a color brochure to inform visitors about some lesser known Civil War landmarks.

“Everybody is attracted to Gettysburg and Antietam,” said Paul Archambault, historic preservation planner with the Southeast Tennessee Development District. “We want to be able to attract that audience down here.”

The brochure, “Tennessee’s Civil War Trails, Fighting for the Rails” identifies 47 sites in a 10-county region.

Carroll Van West of the Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation helped research for the brochure.

“Southeast Tennessee has some of the most important and most compelling Civil War era resources in the state,” Dr. West said, in a prepared statement. “Not only are there major battlefields, but historic cemeteries remind us of the terrible costs of the war at the same time that historic African-American churches remind us that the war also led to emancipation and new definitions of freedom and citizenship in America.”

Many of the sites may be new to locals, Mr. Archambault said, and visits to these historic treasures can make rewarding trips that are easy on the gas tank.

North Georgia officials already have established driving tours similar to the Southeast Tennessee trail. The Blue and Gray Trail guide, created by the Historic High Country Travel Association, directs motorists to about 60 sites, including battlefields, national park units and museums in Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia.

A brochure for the Chickamauga Campaign Heritage Trail traces historic sites related to the Chickamauga campaign.

tri-state effort

The driving trails are just one way officials are planning for the 150th anniversary.

Officials from Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia have formed the Tri-State Civil War 150th Commemoration Association and are seeking nonprofit status, Mr. Culpepper said.

A billboard and print ad campaign will herald the region’s history with the motto, “Where Heroes Fought.” Hotels and transportation companies are developing travel packages, and online resources are being established to guide tourists.

Dade County promoter Bill Marshall said the tri-state group has set a fee of $1,000 to join, and the money will fund added promotion.

Mr. Marshall said Dade County collected donations from an array of groups, such as the local historical society and the Sons of Confederate Veterans to put together its $1,000 to join.

Mr. Archambault said the tri-state group is very busy, but Mr. Culpepper said planning needs to be stepped up.

“We’ve been stuck in the mud,” Mr. Culpepper said. “We’ve got to get out and get some things going.”

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