We’ll take “Chattanooga” for $400

15+ interesting facts about Chattanooga

the side of a pyramid-shaped glass roof and a rainbow in the background, with buildings around.

Let’s get down to quiz-ness. | Photo by NOOGAtoday

Did you know that Chattanooga is also known as the Scenic City?

Nah, just kidding. If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around.

As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of Chattanooga’s history, oddest characteristics, and more. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new.

Either way, test your local knowledge with these 15 interesting facts.

1. We’ll start with an easy one. The world famous MoonPie was created at the Chattanooga Bakery in 1917. They were perfect for coal miners because they were filling, only cost five cents, and fit in a lunch pail. By 1929, hundreds were being boxed every day.

2. Tow trucks were first created in Chattanooga in the 1910s. A garage worker named Ernest Holmes Sr. was inspired to create the wrecker + lifting jib after he needed the help of six men to pull a car from a creek.

3. In 1899, two Chattanooga lawyers — Benjamin F. Thomas + Joseph B. Whitehead — bought Coca-Cola bottling rights for $1. They opened the first Coca-Cola bottling company right here in town, at 17 Market St.

4. The first patented mini-golf course was created in Chattanooga in 1927 by Garnet Carter, a true fore-father. Carter was an inventor and the founder of Rock City Gardens.

5. The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is one of the steepest passenger railway lines in the world with a 72.7% grade.

6. The Hunter Museum has one of the largest collections of American art in the country, and is a national model for how art museums transform their communities.

7. Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park is the first + largest National Military Park in America.

8. Chattanooga boasts more than 25 miles of rock climbing — some even claim that we’re the best US city for climbers.

7 MORE FUN FACTS

Did our fun facts surprise you?

A. Yes, I didn’t know any of these
B. I knew a few but there were still some surprises
C. I know my city well and knew all of these already

ANY SURPRISES?

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Cross Stitching 101 | Wed., Oct. 19 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $35 | Take this class to learn the basics of cross-stitching like setting hoops, selecting the right supplies, and finding or making your own patterns. 🪡
Lookout Comedy Festival | Wed., Oct. 19-Sat., Oct. 22 | Various times | Various locations | $5 - $50 | This four-day comedy fest will feature over 25 comics at various shows — a pass to all the shows is available for $50.
Boo Bash | Wed., Oct. 19 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Wanderlinger Brewing Co. | Donation | At this 21+ party and costume contest, proceeds will go to Moms for Social Justice’s Community Library Project and Chattanooga Pride/Tennessee Valley Pride.

Thursday

Fireside at the Greenway | Thu., Oct. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Greenway Farm, 4960 Gann Store Rd., Hixson | Free | Enjoy an outdoor concert by the NEW Quintet around a fire. 🎶

Friday

Be Our Guest: The Disney DJ Night | Fri., Oct. 21 | 9 p.m. | The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | $18 - $40 | You’re gonna want to be part of this world — enjoy a night full of Disney tunes, specialty drinks, and costumes. 👸

Saturday

Fall Family Fun Fest | Sat., Oct. 22 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Miller Park, 910 Market St., Chattanooga | Free+ | This family-friendly event will feature live music, food trucks, s’mores, pumpkin painting, inflatable soccer, and more. 🍁
Mindful Yoga | Sat., Oct. 22 | 10-11 a.m. | White Oak Park, 2 Midvale Ave. E., Red Bank | Free, RSVP | Come stretch your mind and body in this gentle afternoon yoga session provided by Outshine Yoga + The Trust for Public Land. 🧘

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

54º | Sunny | 1% chance of rain ☀️
We had a chilly one yesterday, and it looks like more of the same is expected today + tomorrow. Don’t worry, though — temperatures are expected to be in the 70s by this weekend. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Edu

Hamilton County Schools recently launched its fourth Leadership HCS Class. Participants will attend eight monthly sessions running from October through May, each focusing on a different action area of Hamilton County Schools. Find the full 2023 cohort here.

Biz

Yesterday, TVFCU’s fifth annual Idea Leap Grant pitch competition took place. The grand prize of $50,000 went to local business Be Caffeinated, while Sleepyhead Coffee received $20,000 in first place. If you missed the pitches, you can watch them here.
North Shore children’s clothing store The Sandbox recently expanded to offer clothing for teens. Called The Shore Next Door, the shop is in the space adjacent to The Sandbox. 👕 (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Award

Local coffee shop + roastery Mad Priest Coffee was recently named a 2023 Roaster of the Year finalist via Roast Magazine. The local business received the honor in the Micro Roaster category. We think a celebratory cup of coffee is in order. ☕

Arts

String Theory announced that it will welcome back the Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet for its second concert of the season. The performance will take place at the Hunter Museum on Mon., Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m.
The Arts at Erlanger Committee is now accepting submissions for its upcoming “Reflections and Shadows” gallery show. Visual artists can submit pieces of any medium that can be hung on a wall and is inspired by reflections and shadows through Fri., Nov. 11. 🖼️

Job

Have Gold Bond, Icy Hot, or Rolaids in your medicine cabinet? Fun fact: Those are just a few of the common over-the-counter self-care products made right here in Chattanooga by Sanofi’s Consumer Healthcare group. Pro tip: The nationally-leading company is actively hiring.*

Seasonal

If you WFH like us, it’s nearly time to break out the space heater. Solve chilly mornings the energy efficient way with the Dr. Infrared Heater that warms objects, not the air. Hello, cozy legs. Bonus: Heat your patio with infrared, too. 🔥*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

She’s a brick...yard 🎶

Local venture capital company is a place for “serious founders”

A space with a couch set across from two chairs and a coffee table, with two private small telephone booth-like rooms in the background.

We’re thinking of starting a business just to access this beautiful space. | Photo by Lazo Studio via Brickyard

Have you heard of Brickyard? Put simply, the local early stage capital and founder outpost is a place for “serious founders.”

The local organization was started by five entrepreneurs, including two you may be pretty familiar with — Cam Doody + Matt Patterson, the founders of a little company called Bellhops.

According to the Chattanooga Chamber, the incubator-like space (it’s important to note that it is not an actual incubator, though — more like “an insulator”) + funding has brought 15 different startup founders from around the world right here to Chattanooga, many of which are women or minority-owned.

Beyond the business, capital, and startup side of things, Brickyard’s space is also just... super cool. We like to think of it as a 12,000-sqft coworking site specifically designed for founders, that also happens to feature a founder house, gym, sauna, cold plunge, and all the cozy details of your dreams.

Check out a few of the Brickyard founders here.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brianna.

Editor’s pick: Wondering where Kristen is? Don’t fret, she’s just enjoying some time off with family. She’ll be back in town just in time to judge the upcoming Scenic City Wings contest at the Chattanooga Market.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Pop some tags for the perfect Halloween costume.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brianna Williams, Kristen Templeton, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Sarah Edwards | Advertise with us.

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