A pedestrian walks past a 1912 statue of Civil War Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston along a newly streetscaped section of Hamilton Street in Dalton, Ga. on Monday. The city is undergoing an eight-year, $6 million renovation of downtown streets.Forget the stodgy name of Carpet Capital of the World. Local historians and tourism folks say Dalton’s claim to fame lies in its history, enriched by Native American beginnings, Civil War battles and railroad lore.
“We are the gateway to the Civil War in Georgia,” said Brett Huske, executive director of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It is a wonderful place to visit to find out all about the history and the battles in the area.”
In late 1863, after being defeated in Chattanooga, Confederate troops wintered in Dalton. The area is peppered with battle sites from the spring of 1964, as Union troops pushed south during the Atlanta Campaign. The town also served as a hub for injured troops, with the most seriously injured sent south to Atlanta.
Two restored buildings in downtown Dalton showcase the old depots in the town and are a favorite hangout for visiting train watchers.
The Pinhoti Trail, a 240-mile trail stretching from Alabama’s Appalachian Mountains into Northwest Georgia, passes through the Dalton area. It is the longest foot trail in Georgia.