A look at Chattanooga’s history is a fascinating roller-coaster ride of violence, progress, reconstruction, controversy and confusion. And that’s just the Civil war.
There are whole books yet to be written about Chattanooga’s 21st Century renaissance. But in order to understand where we are (and where we’re going), it’s important to understand where we’ve been. The answer: “a lot of places.”
Here’s a quick overview: Chattanooga started as Ross’s Landing (1815) named after Chief John Ross. It was changed to Chattanooga in 1838, the word meaning “rock coming to a point” in Creek language. Five major Civil War battles took place in the area (hence the national military parks), and, later, Chattanooga’s centralized location made it famous for railroad travel (we all know the song).
Chattanooga was also a prominent jazz/blues hub, the site of historic Civil Rights-era movements, three major floods, industry (The Dynamo of Dixie), aggressive tourism (Rock City + Ruby Falls) and a renaissance that can only be described as inspiring.
I have yet to find a digestible one-volume overview of Chattanooga’s history. Instead, there are multiple books focused on specific areas of our past.
*Hint, Hint.* *They make great stocking stuffers for the history buff in your family.
Several of the books below are listed as “out of print.” But here’s a tip: you can find almost all of them at used bookstores for fair prices. I’ve seen most of these in the “Local” sections of area bookstores for next to nothing.
Did we miss a good? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️
“Chattanooga’s Terminal Station,” by Justin Strickland
Much of Chattanooga’s modern history has centered on the importance of trains and the railroad industry. Justin Strickland’s book chronicles the development of Chattanooga’s historic terminal station through photos + stories. Long before Glenn Miller’s famous “Chattanooga Choo Choo” song, trains were an integral part of our city’s story.
“Haunted Chattanooga,” by Amy Petulla
Here’s the thing about paranormal books: they are actually history books. You can’t have a ghost story without context and that context can be a fascinating snippet of historical note. Amy Petulla is the owner of Chattanooga Ghost Tours (in other words, she knows what she’s talking about) and her book is a great entry point into the city’s history with just enough embellishment to keep it interesting. You’ve heard about ghosts at The Read House, Chickamauga Battlefield and the Hunter Museum of American Art. This book adds historical context to those stories … and it’s a pretty scary read, too.
“Chattanooga’s Story,” by John Wilson
I spoke to John Wilson at an event this week and he said this book — originally released in 1980 — can still be found in local bookstores. Wilson, the publisher of Chattanoogan.com, has released multiple history books through his platform. This book traces “present-day Chattanoogans back to their European forebears.” It’s also packed full of photos.
“Chattanooga: Then & Now,” by William F. Hull
Hull’s book is a great companion to Nicely’s book above. The short book is filled with historic photographs juxtaposed with the modern equivalents. Although a bit dated (it was released in 2008), the book offers a view of how much the downtown has changed. Although, the book was released before the many changes to Main St. and the Southside, you’ll still be surprised at how much Chattanooga has evolved. It has been an enormous endeavor.
“Old Money, New South: The Spirit of Chattanooga,” by Dean Arnold
You’ve heard that Chattanooga is a “money town,” but where did that come from? And whose money was at the heart? Dean Arnold’s book explores the story of the many families who were pivotal to Chattanooga’s early growth—names like Probasco and Lupton. The philanthropy of powerful families helped shape (and continues to shape) Chattanooga’s economic landscape.
“Hidden History of Chattanooga,” by Alexandra Walker Clark
The obvious stories of Chattanooga’s history have been written about, but what about the “hidden” history of the city? Clark’s book, unlike others, focuses on the early origins of the city, specifically the Native American population who called Chattanooga home long before we did.
“Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide,” by Maury Nicely
Have you ever walked by a building and thought, “What did that building use to be?” Maury Nicely is a local attorney and historian. His book is a veritable goldmine of informational history nuggets. The format of the book allows for you to visit specific sections of Chattanooga and walk around to view historical landmarks. It’s also surprising to note how much of Chattanooga’s older infrastructure has been lost over time.
“Chattanooga Landmarks: Exploring the History of the Scenic City,” by Jennifer Crutchfield
A few moments with Jennifer Crutchfield and you’ll sense her undying passion for Chattanooga history. Her book—like Maury Nicely’s—is best-read while on foot exploring the city’s many landmarks. She touches on the history of places like Maclellan Island, the Market Street Bridge, Cameron Hill (now home to Blue Cross Blue Shield) and UTC. The book is also structured to make it easy to explore seven specific areas through short vignettes.
It’s arguably more important to remember the negative aspects of our history than the positives. That’s how you learn. One of the pockmarks on Chattanooga’s 200+ year modern history was the 1906 lynching of Ed Johnson on the Walnut Street Bridge. This book chronicles the landmark Supreme Court case that followed and is a must-read for every Chattanoogan.
“Civil War in the West” trilogy, by Peter Cozzens
The Battles For Chattanooga were among the most important of the entire Civil War. Peter Cozzens’ has highlighted those tumultuous battles in several excellent books that make up the “Civil War in the West” series. His books are “This Terrible Sound: The Battle of Chickamauga,” “No Better Place to Die: the Battle of Stones River” and “The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga.” This is not light reading, but for history buffs, it doesn’t get much more comprehensive.
The best book about Chattanooga hasn’t been written. Why? Because the best years are ahead of us. Our city is a bellwether for how a struggling mid-size city can be rejuvenated. But we can’t forget our roots.
Any of the above books would make a great holiday gift.
Let me know if you find any more.
