In a quiet corner of North Georgia, a small path traces a portion of the old Dry Valley Road, which Union soldiers used to march from Mountain Cove through Crawfish Springs — better known today as the city of Chickamauga. The Gordon-Lee Mansion is nearby, an estate used as a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Chickamauga.
These sites represent only a small portion of the American history in this part of the country. And unless we take serious and intentional steps to make sure this history remains not only uncovered, but celebrated and shared, we run the risk of losing it as our communities continue to grow and develop.
That’s why Walker County, along with our partners at the city of Chickamauga, have been working with Trust For Public Land (TPL) on a series of projects that help our heritage guide progress.
Last fall, as chair of the Walker County Commission, I had the honor of presiding over the groundbreaking for the Battlefield Connector Trail, which unites these and other historical assets along a new bike and pedestrian pathway connecting the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park to downtown Chickamauga. The park already draws more than one million visitors each year, but we haven’t been able to provide them with easy, safe access to everything else Chickamauga has to offer — until now.
(IN THE NEWS: New trail will connect downtown Chickamauga to battlefield)