By Brianna Williams
Los Angeles has the Hollywood sign. Chicago has the bean, which is actually called Cloud Gate. And when you think of Nashville, maybe the Batman building or the Grand Ole Opry come to mind.
We wanted to know what iconic landmark is most representative of Chattanooga, so we asked you all to tell us what makes you think most of our fair city.
We used your suggestions that we took from Facebook + Instagram and ranked the top 10 based on your 100+ comments.
🔟 Fountain Square Firefighter Memorial | 532 Lookout St.
This fountain is outside of what’s now a restaurant called Universal Joint and adjacent to the Hamilton County Courthouse. It’s a memorial to firefighters who died in a fire in 1887. 🚒
9️⃣ The Read House | 107 W. MLK Blvd.
A hotel that has served guests like Oprah Winfrey, Winston Churchill + Al Capone, The Read House has been a Chattanooga landmark since 1926. According to legend, room 311 of the hotel is haunted.
8️⃣ The Passage | Ross’s Landing
The Passage is a pedestrian link between downtown Chattanooga and the Tennessee River + marks the beginning of the Trail of Tears.
7️⃣ Tivoli Theatre | 709 Broad St.
The Tivoli Theatre is Chattanooga’s historic theatre that opened in 1921. This theatre was one of the first air-conditioned public buildings in the United States.
6️⃣ Rock City/Rock City Barns | 1400 Patten Rd.
This landmark is 1,700-feet above sea level and has a 100-foot waterfall that flows down Lookout Mountain. Barns with phrases such as “See Rock City” painted on the side used to serve as a major form of advertising, but they are more about history and nostalgia today. Four years ago, Rock City marked the 80th anniversary of the barns first appearing as advertising icons. In addition to actual barns being used for advertising, now smaller red barns that say “See Rock City” are also synonymous with Chattanooga.
5️⃣ The Tennessee River | (Our fav spot to see the river is Coolidge Park)
It’s 652 miles long and runs directly through Chattanooga. The name of the river may have come from the name of a Cherokee village, and the body of water was strategically important during the Civil War.
4️⃣ Lookout Mountain | Foot of the mountain is at 3917 St. Elmo Ave.
The landmark has endless historic significance, including a major Civil War battle. Johnny Cash has also crooned about the natural feature. 🚉
3️⃣ The Tennessee Aquarium | 1 Broad St.
The aquarium’s two iconic buildings have glass peaks that stand out in the city’s skyline. Since opening in 1992, the private, not-for-profit organization has played a significant role in the city’s economic development. The original idea to have an aquarium near the waterfront came from UT students during a 1985 master planning effort.
2️⃣ The Walnut Street Bridge | 1 Walnut St.
It’s one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. The Walnut Street Bridge, erected in 1891, connects downtown and North Chattanooga. It’s the state’s oldest non-military highway bridge still in use today.
1️⃣ The Chattanooga Choo Choo/Terminal Station | 1400 Market St.
Terminal Station is the entrance to what is now the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel/complex. It’s the part that narrowly escaped demolition in the ‘70s when a group of local businessmen saved it.
Honorable mentions
Point Park | 110 Point Park Rd.
Atop Lookout Mountain, Point Park is a part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. It’s the site of the aforementioned Civil War battle, commonly called “The Battle Above The Clouds.” ☁️
The Dome building | 735-799 Georgia Ave.
The Dome Building is a 7-story building that has been a feature of Chattanooga’s skyline for over 125 years. It was originally known as the Ochs building + was home to the Chattanooga Times.
