The Cherokee Indians originally settled the area, farming and enjoying the natural beauty of the land. During the War of 1812, five hundred Cherokee soldiers from the area fought with General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend against the Creek Indians, who were aligned with England. The Cherokee called the area home until their forced exodus in 1838, leading to the Trail of Tears.

During the American Civil War the entire Chickamauga Valley was a buzz of activity as troops moved between Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga. In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga, the gateway to the deep south.

The Battle of Chickamauga was fought September 19-20, 1863 and involved more than 150,000 soldiers of the Northern and Southern Armies. The Confederate’s were victorious in September, but renewed fighting in Chattanooga in November gave Union troops final control. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the nation’s first, was created in 1890 to preserve and commemorate these battlefields.