Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

06/25/2026

The 1863 Campaign for Chattanooga left behind thousands of stories, of which the battles themselves were only a few chapters. For many Americans, the conflict did not end when the guns of Civil War fell silent. As the nation pushed westward, the consequences of war followed.

On June 25, 1876, with the United States looking ahead to its 100th birthday, Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry into the Little Bighorn Valley. The fight that followed soon passed into legend. Among those killed was Thomas Custer, George Custer’s brother, who had earlier served at the Battle of Chickamauga as a staff officer to U.S. General James Negley. Also killed nearby was Lieutenant John Crittenden—the battle’s only infantry officer and the son of U.S. General Thomas Crittenden, commander of the 21st Corps at Chickamauga.

Another connection passed briefly through Chattanooga. Captain Myles Keogh, serving on the staff of U.S. General George Stoneman, visited Lookout Mountain in March 1864, where he had his photograph taken after arriving in the city. Days after the fighting at Little Bighorn, Captain William S. McCaskey—a Chickamauga veteran who had served as a lieutenant in the 79th Pennsylvania—carried the painful duty of delivering news of the officers’ deaths to Libby Custer and the other families at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

As we approach the nation’s 250th birthday and reflect on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, we are reminded that history is not made of isolated events. The sacrifices made during these turbulent times inspire us to reflect on a timeless question: How might the events and narratives of today shape the path of future generations? As we contemplate the legacy of those who came before us, we are prompted to consider where our own stories may lead in the years to come.

Images: Captain Thomas Custer, courtesy of the US Department of Veterans Affairs; Lieutenant John Crittenden, courtesy of Find a Grave; Myles Keogh (far right in double breasted coat) on Lookout Mountain, William McCaskey, while serving in the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry, Brigadier General John Geary, and Colonel John H. King, all courtesy of the National Park Service

06/13/2026

Free Entrance to Point Park on Lookout Mountain on Sunday, June 14, for Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday:

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park preserves places where more than 150,000 Americans participated in some of the heaviest fighting of the American Civil War. We invite you to visit the park to learn some of the stories of heroism and sacrifice which occurred on these hallowed grounds.

For Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday, all entrance fees to Point Park on Lookout Mountain will be waived on Sunday, June 14, allowing free entry for all visitors. Visitors interested in learning about the battles can join a ranger inside the entrance gate at Point Park at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm for a free 45-minute program providing an overview of the Siege and Battles for Chattanooga.

In the case of inclement weather, programs will be adapted and provided indoors. We hope to see you at the park!

Images: Point Park Entrance Gate, NPS; Lithograph of Capt. James Wilson and soldiers of the 8th Kentucky Union Infantry with their regiment’s American flag atop Lookout Mountain, James Fuller Queen, LOC.

06/13/2026

Help Protect Your Park!

When visiting Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, we ask all visitors to enjoy the scenery but leave all rock features as you find them.

Many of these stones hold important cultural, historical, and natural significance. Moving, stacking, or disturbing rocks can damage sensitive resources, disrupt wildlife habitat, and erase clues that help us understand the past.

Your care helps preserve this special place for future generations.

Thank you for being a good steward of your national park!

Image: Rocks stacked in a dry streambed in Chickamauga Battlefield. NPS Photo

05/27/2026

Last week, we featured Captain Adolph Metzner’s wartime drawings depicting the Battle of Chickamauga. Despite suffering a wound during the battle, Metzner continued serving with the 32nd Indiana Infantry and produced several drawings depicting people, places, and events related to the Battles for Chattanooga.

The arrival of General Ulysses S. Grant in Chattanooga on October 23, 1863, reshaped the struggle for the city, and Metzner took some time that fall to sketch the recently arrived commander. His sketch, entitled “Genrl [sic] Grant, Chattanooga, Tenn.,” depicted Grant smoking a cigar and wearing a greatcoat with a wide-brimmed hat.

Following the Federal victory at Missionary Ridge on November 25, Metzner drew a picture showing Captain Louis Von Trebra of the 32nd Indiana capturing a Confederate cannon during the Union assault. Metzner used watercolors to help bring this pen and ink drawing to life.

In addition to drawing battle scenes, Metzner drew pictures of comrades and camp life, including a drawing of General August Willich encamped at Chattanooga with Lookout Mountain looming in the distance. Metzner made sure to include Willich’s pet raccoon perched atop the general’s shoulder. Lookout Mountain captivated many of the soldiers involved in the Campaign for Chattanooga, and Metzner created an impressionistic watercolor of the mountain with only a few scattered tents to indicate a martial presence amidst the serene landscape.

What similarities and differences do you notice across these pieces of art? What insight might these drawings and paintings provide into Metzner’s experiences during this pivotal campaign?

Click the link below to view a complete digital gallery of Metzner’s wartime drawings, courtesy of the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=metzner&co=drwg&st=grid&loclr=blogloc

Drawings: “Genrl [sic] Grant, Chattanooga, Tenn.,” “Captain Louis von Trebra at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863,” “General August Willich’s quarters near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee,” and “Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, fall 1863,” Adolph Metzner, LOC.

05/24/2026

Free Entrance to Point Park on Lookout Mountain on Monday, May 25, in Honor of Memorial Day:

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park preserves places where thousands of Americans lost their lives in some of the heaviest fighting of the American Civil War. This Memorial Day, we invite you to visit the park to reflect on the sacrifices made on these hallowed grounds and to learn some of the stories of the fallen.

In honor of Memorial Day, all entrance fees to Point Park on Lookout Mountain will be waived on Monday, May 25, allowing free entry for all visitors. Check out the schedule below for a list of the free, ranger-guided programs which will be offered at Point Park and at the Chickamauga Battlefield on Memorial Day:

Point Park on Lookout Mountain:
11 AM – The Struggle for Chattanooga: Join a ranger inside the entrance gate at Point Park for a 45-minute program providing an overview of the Siege and Battles for Chattanooga.

Chickamauga Battlefield:
10 AM – Car Caravan Driving Tour: This program is a 90-minute to two-hour guided tour that provides an overview of the Battle of Chickamauga. After an introduction in the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, participants will follow a ranger in their personal vehicles to three stops on the battlefield to learn about the people, places, and stories which defined this pivotal battle.

2 PM – Fire on the Farm: This 45-minute program will take place at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center and examine the fighting that occurred on the McDonald Farm on September 20, 1863.

In the case of inclement weather, programs will be adapted and provided indoors. We hope to see you at the park!

05/20/2026

Knowledge of the past comes only through what others have left behind.

Artifacts, letters, photographs, oral histories, books, buildings, monuments, and artwork all provide insights into the people, places, and events that have shaped human history. Captain Adolph Metzner of the 32nd Indiana Infantry documented his wartime experiences through a series of drawings depicting fellow soldiers, camp life, and the perils of battle.

After immigrating to the United States from Germany in 1856, Metzner worked as a pharmacist in Louisville, Kentucky, until he enlisted in the 32nd Indiana Infantry in 1861 following the outbreak of the Civil War. Metzner fought at Chickamauga as a member of August Willich’s Brigade and suffered a wound to his right leg. After the battle, he produced several drawings depicting some of the harrowing moments he witnessed during the fight.

While tens of thousands of soldiers left behind letters and diaries describing their experiences during the war, Metzner’s collection of wartime drawings provides a unique glimpse into the life of a soldier at war.

The drawings below include Metzner’s sketch of his commander, General Willich, as well as his drawings of the Battle of Chickamauga. Next week, we will feature Metzner’s artwork depicting people, places, and events related to the Battles for Chattanooga.

Click the link below to view a complete digital gallery of Metzner’s wartime drawings, courtesy of the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=metzner&co=drwg&st=grid&loclr=blogloc

Photo: Adolph Metzner, LOC.

Drawings: “General August Willich,” “Lost on the Field of Chickamauga,” “Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19, 1863,” and “Troops of the Thirty-second Indiana at Chickamauga, September 1863,” Adolph Metzner, LOC.

05/13/2026

A very common myth these days is that the Confederate cannon on Lookout Mountain were unable to fire down the slopes due to the cannon ball rolling out of the barrel. The cannon used at the time could not be depressed too low without damaging the gun carriage. For that reason, Union troops sweeping the slope of the mountain were relatively safe after passing under the guns. Most cannon fired a fixed round, with the projectile strapped to a wooden sabot, and a powder bag then attached to the sabot, making it impossible for the projectile to “roll” out of the barrel.

05/12/2026

The National Park Service is currently recruiting for a seasonal Administrative Support Assistant (OA) position at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. This opening is available to interested individuals within a 75-mile radius of the park’s headquarters at Chickamauga Battlefield, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742.

The full job announcement, including all requirements needed to be considered for this position may be found at the following link: www.nps.gov/chch/getinvolved/workwithus.htm

If you know someone who would like to apply, please share this announcement with them.

We appreciate your assistance in spreading the word to those who may be interested in applying. Thank you for taking the time to help connect potential candidates with this opportunity.

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05/08/2026

On Friday, May 8, 2026, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park celebrated completion of a portion of an $8.1 million roadway reconstruction project. This marks a significant milestone in ensuring safe, reliable access to the park ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund. Representatives from the National Park Foundation and other park partners joined National Park Service leadership for a ceremonial event celebrating the improvements.

This project is revitalizing several roads and parking areas across the park, including the recently completed Dyer Road. Work includes resurfacing pavement, stabilizing roadway shoulders and repairing drainage systems.

"Here, on terrain preserved since 1890 as America’s very first national military park,
the roads we drive today follow the same corridors that soldiers used as they maneuvered through forests and fields during the second deadliest battle of the Civil War.
These roads are not just transportation routes; they are interpretive pathways. They help visitors follow the historical flow of the battle, connecting them to more than 5,300 acres of this commemorative landscape filled with 1000s of monuments, markers, tablets, and cannon.
They also remain vital to our modern community. Park roadways connect commuters to outlying neighborhoods and provide safe, scenic spaces for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Keeping these roads open and safe ensures that the park itself remains accessible to all our visitors who rely on roadway access to reach these historic sites," said Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Superintendent Brad Bennett.

04/29/2026

You never know when a bit of Civil War trivia might come in handy!

Before commanding a division at Chickamauga and a corps at Chattanooga, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge held a very different role.

Trivia Question:
What political office did John C. Breckinridge hold before the Civil War?

Answer:
He was President James Buchanan’s Vice President and was even a candidate in the 1860 presidential election. His previous occupation is quite unique in the 1860 U.S. census!