Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion tout Chickamauga tourism

photo Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion president Gary Gossett speaks to Chickamauga officials about upcoming events at the Gordon-Lee Mansion and the need for funding from the city.

Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion president Gary Gossett told the Chickamauga City Council that the group wants to promote and preserve the mansion to make it an attraction for all visitors. Tours are held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion applied to the IRS to become an official 501(c)3 nonprofit. Gossett said the Friends would like to do membership drives and tours this summer.

"The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga is coming up and we will have thousands of visitors in the area," said Gossett. "We want to attract folks to Chickamauga. We would like to have a Blue and Gray Barbecue event the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Gordon-Lee Mansion. We need the city to sponsor it. It's $775 for first, second and third place. We will need port-o-potties."

The Council approved to fund the event for $1,500, with Councilman James P. Staub abstaining. Culpepper said in 1889 people gathered for a barbecue at the Gordon-Lee Mansion and now locals re-enact it.

"The Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion will have the barbecue contest and arts and crafts festival for the Friends to continue to maintain the mansion," said Culpepper. "In the past the city has always budgeted $1,500 to pay the awards for the barbecue contest. We want people going to the re-enactment to stop and spend money here. We want people to visit the battlefield that whole week."

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