April 8th: Chattanooga

A campsite is a campsite, but some are a bit nicer than others, so here’s one of our pitch at Raccoon Mountain, Chattanooga. We’re four miles from Chattanooga itself, the very one in the Choo Choo song.

Nice trail up Raccoon Mountain starting just behind the campsite. We walked it several times. We didn’t see any raccoons or any other animals apart from eastern grey squirrels. These we have found in abundance in all campsites and areas we’ve visited. This is the same species introduced into the UK in 1876 and is now blamed for the virtual elimination of our native red squirrels. The grey does not attack the red squirrel but is a more vigorous breeder and feeder, so infiltrates and then takes over the red’s patches.

And here’s another endangered species crossing a stream on the forest path who’s definitely not letting anyone share her red patches.

 

Chattanooga was founded in 1816, originally called Ross’ Landing, as a trading post on the Tennessee River. Today it’s a modern city that incorporates some stylish 1920’s architecture and elegant public buildings. Here’s a selection of photos.

The fountain discharges into the Tennessee River, a wide but originally difficult waterway to navigate, long since dredged and canalised.  Walnut Street Bridge is visible through an arch of the road bridge: the longest pedestrian bridge in the world and over 100 years old. We walked it and got some lovely views of the river. Here’s a better photo, at night, borrowed from the tourist info. website.

The bridge walk gives a birds-eye view of the riverside parks and the inevitable paddle boat. All southern rivers offer tourist trips in stern-wheeler paddleboats.

The Maclellan building. Built in 1924 as the HQ of the Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company.

 

Next, the Dome Building dating from 1892 and at that time the tallest in the city. Originally housed the local newspaper.

 

The whole area was part of the Cherokee tribal lands that they had won, many years before the white man’s appearance, from the Creek Indians. Yes, “won” is the correct term, and it’s all explained on this plaque in a commemorative space by the river.

So maybe we should propose a game of stickball with Argentina to sort out the Falklands dispute.

To sum up: Chattanooga City provided us with a pleasant and interesting afternoon out, and would probably merit further investigation. 

 ps not sure you can read the Cherokee plaque, so here's a transcript:

"Stickball, also known as "Little Brother to War", is an ancient game played by native nations throughout eastern North America. Playing fields often covered several miles and participants were occasionally killed or severely injured. Cherokee stickball was used to settle disputes between towns and other tribes. Long ago the Cherokee obtained land in present day Georgia when they defeated the Creeks in a momumental Stickball Game. Stickball is still a part of religious ceremonies and used to settle certain issues. It is an honour to play and survive!"