To try to condense hundreds, if not thousands, of years of history into only a few pages would be a fool’s errand for any city. But it’s especially foolish for a city like Chattanooga. Entire books could be — and have been — written about just a single topic of this city’s history (check your local book stores for examples).
So instead of trying to give you a comprehensive history of the Scenic City, we’ve put together a who, what and when guide to Chattanooga’s past, highlighting some of the city’s notable moments, people and structures. Think of this as your Chattanooga cheat sheet that lets you drop a fun fact at parties — or perhaps more importantly, lets you appreciate the city you call home.
When’s That?
Track the city’s progress from trading post to National Park City
— Pre-1800s: The Chattanooga area is home to indigenous people for thousands of years.