The first installation at Sculpture Fields was “Betty Davis Eyes,” a 70-ft-long steel structure made by the park’s founder John Henry. | Photo by Chattanooga Tourism Co.
This holiday season, we’re unwrapping a few presents you won’t find under a tree or in a store. From artworks to entire buildings, check out these gifts given to Chattanooga through the years.
Sculpture Fields at Montague Park | In 1911, Mary Thayer Montague deeded the City of Chattanooga 49 acres of land that makes up part of the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park in honor of her late husband, Theodore G. Montague, former president of Chattanooga’s First National Bank. The public sculpture park, which is the largest of its kind in the Southeast, opened in 2016 thanks to Kentucky sculptor John Henry.
View hundreds of beautiful pieces from the Victorian Era through the Depression Era at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. | Photo by NOOGAtoday
Anna Safley Houston’s rare glass collection | Known for having nine husbands and 10,000 pieces of glassware, this Chattanooga transplant made legal arrangements before her death in 1951 to give Chattanoogans her prized decorative glass collections, which are now on display at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. While the museum can only display 10% of Houston’s rare art glass collection due to the number of items, it’s worth millions. Fun fact: Her pitcher collection is thought to be the largest in the world.
The Hunter Museum mansion was built in 1906 + designed by architectural firm Mead and Garfield — Abram Garfield was the son of former President James Garfield. | Photo by Hannah Brawley
Hunter Museum of American Art | While the 1.4 acres this museum calls home has seen several updates through the years, it all started with a donated mansion. George Thomas Hunter, who ran the Coca-Cola Bottling Company empire in the 1990s, founded a private charitable fund in 1944. Following his death in 1950, the Chattanooga Art Association asked the foundation that his Neoclassical-style mansion be donated to create an art museum, which became Chattanooga’s first art museum in 1952.
Events
Events
It’s not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Chattanooga. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Happy holidays, Chattanooga. As you read this, I’m probably watching the best film to exist (“Home Alone,” I will not be taking questions). Before I do that, I’ll leave you with some suggestions for ways to entertain family + friends in town:
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