Chattanoogans young and old, new to the area or here all their lives, have much to be thankful for in this city on a day when we all pause to give thanks.
We’ll name a few sites today, some involving the past and some the present, but all timeless. No offense to the likes of the Tennessee Aquarium, Rock City and Ruby Falls, all world class attractions, but we wanted to offer some that might be overlooked.
› Tennessee River: Yes, it’s a freight route and a cog in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s ability to manage the flow of water throughout the Tennessee Valley, but the river was crucial to the city’s founding (as it was to Native American settlements that go back thousands of years) and — with Chickamauga Lake — remains a seminal place for recreation and around which such amenities as Chester Frost Park, the Tennessee Riverwalk and Ross’s Landing have been built.
› Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility: If you live in Chattanooga and you’ve never been here, you’re missing a treat. Not only is the facility a marvel for how it helps provide hydroelectric power for the valley, but drives or walks around the lake, picnic areas, scenic views, trails and the informative visitors center allow for an even more enjoyable visit. Visits deep inside the facility used to be regularly available, but are now reportedly rare.
› Railroad heritage: The city’s existence as a rail center linking the Midwest, North and South changed as railroads lost much of their economic importance, but its significance here can still be found with the presence of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, which offers numerous passenger excursions; the Chattanooga Choo Choo, named for the iconic Glenn Miller song of the 1940s and now a hotel located at the former Union Station; and freight rail companies CSX and Norfolk Southern, which still have a considerable presence in the city.