Presidents Day and Black History Month will be spotlighted this weekend at two units of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
¦ Chickamauga Battlefield: A car caravan tour will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, from the Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe.
In a program titled "Forgotten Voices - African American Stories From Chickamauga Battlefield," a park ranger will lead visitors through the property, relating stories about the roles blacks played in the history of the battlefield, the pre-Civil War era and beyond. Participants will learn about individuals and families who were affected by the nation-shaping events that occurred in the fields and forests of Chickamauga.
¦ Point Park: The long holiday weekend will offer a chance to enjoy this unit of the national park for free. Normally, Point Park atop Lookout Mountain charges a $3 entry for visitors 16 and older. In honor of Presidents Day, admission costs will be waived from Saturday, Feb. 15, through Monday, Feb. 17.
Entrance fees are not charged at Chickamauga Battlefield in Fort Oglethorpe or at Cravens House on Lookout Mountain.
National parks also will offer free entry on April 19-20 (opening weekend of National Park Week), Aug. 25 (National Park Service anniversary), Sept. 27 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day).
For more information on these and other programs, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/chch.