Just as they were more than 150 years ago, Chattanooga and Chickamauga will be at the center of the War Between the States. This time, however, it will be at the history level.
Chattanooga will host the Civil War Trust's 2017 Annual Conference starting today and ending Sunday. There's a full schedule of events for Trust members at The Chattanoogan and surrounding historical sites, kicking off at 9 a.m. with an all-day tour.
The conference - the standard ticket price was $605 per person - was sold out by May 21. More than 400 people will attend, Trust officials said. Chattanooga hosted the annual conference and other Trust events in 2002, 2007 and 2011.
This year's theme is "Last Best Chance: The Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns," focusing on the battles that took place here in 1863.
Open to the public
During the Civil War Trust’s 2017 Annual Conference in Chattanooga this week, the public is invited to explore the Trust’s extensive exhibit hall on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit is housed in the Roberts and Rose Rooms at The Chattanoogan.To get there, take Interstates 75 or 59 to Interstate 24 and continue toward downtown Chattanooga. From I-24, take U.S. Highway 27 North to the Martin Luther King Boulevard exit (exit 1A). Take MLK two blocks to Broad Street and turn right. Go three blocks to 13th Street and turn right. The entrance and parking is on the right.
Chattanooga is an obvious site for the conference, Trust spokeswoman Meg Martin said via email on Tuesday.
"The area around Chattanooga was the site of two decisive Civil War battles, allowing for a wealth of history to explore during the conference's tours, presentations, and lectures," Martin said. "The Battle of Chickamauga, fought Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, 1863, was a Union loss that is known as one of the bloodiest battles in the Western Theater.
"The Battle of Chattanooga, fought almost two months later from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25, 1863, was ultimately a Union victory that forced the Confederates to withdraw," Martin said. "This battle opened up the deep South to a Union invasion, setting the stage for General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign the following spring."
Most events are open only to those who purchased tickets, but the public is invited to check out the Trust's exhibits hall, open all day Thursday.
Participants will take multiple tours - from lengthy hikes to general overviews - that will cover Joe Wheeler's Raid, the Tullahoma Campaign, Eli Long's cavalry raid, the Tennessee Valley Railroad, George Thomas at Chickamauga and battlefield photography.
Participants will have several opportunities to follow the battles in full, and additional tours will be offered at area museums, homes and gardens, officials said.
Lectures, tours and presentations will be given by leading Civil War historians including Garry Adelman, Keith Bohannon, Michael R. Bradley, Mark Brainard, Peter Cozzens, Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Ellard, A. Wilson Greene, Parker Hills, Anthony Hodges, Michael Murphy, James Ogden III, David Powell, William Glenn Robertson, Gregory Wade, Kristopher White, Brian Steele Wills and Bob Zeller.
Registered attendees can engage in discussion panels, lectures and multimedia presentations. Friday evening, guests can attend a dinner cruise down the Tennessee River to Brown's Ferry, land previously preserved by the Civil War Trust.
The high point of the conference will be a banquet and awards ceremony on Saturday, officials said.
The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of America's hallowed battlegrounds, including those from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
To date, the Trust has preserved more than 46,000 acres of battlefield land in 23 states.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.