Honk if you recognize the entrance to the Bachman Tunnels.
Goodness knows, people have been honking their way through those Missionary Ridge “tubes” for decades.
Even though the tunnels are not visible in this photo (they would be just to the right of the photo frame), residents will recognize this spot as a gateway to and from East Ridge.
Built in 1929 to connect Chattanooga with East Ridge (which was incorporated in 1921), the Bachman Tunnels (sometimes called the Bachman Tubes) were part of a main traffic thoroughfare, comprising U.S. highways 41 and 76, for a good part of the 20th century. Now, the tunnels are a secondary route for through traffic and a shortcut for locals.
This vintage photo is part of the Perry Mayo collection of images at ChattanoogaHistory.com, a website curated by local history buff Sam Hall. The “Remember when, Chattanooga?” series can also be found on its Facebook page.