Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the Battle of Chickamauga

Date: August 29, 2012
Contact: Kim Coons, 423-752-5213 x139

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to participate in the commemorative activities for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga.  

Numerous programs will take place on Chickamauga Battlefield throughout the weekend of September 14 and 15, 2013, with the featured activity being a historic "walk through time." Visitors to this program will be propelled through various living history stations where they will learn about the occurrences in North Georgia between 1860 and 1864. Due to limited space, tickets are required for this program. All tickets are free and are available at https://www.nps.gov/chch/planyourvisit/civil-war-timeline-and-special-programs.htm. In order to enable visitors the opportunity to be transported back in time, several road closures will be required throughout the park over the weekend. Since this is a walking tour, visitors may wish to bring portable chairs/stools for this program. There will be no seating along the timeline. However, it should be noted that chairs/stools will need to be carried from location to location. Additional visitors are expected this weekend and assistance to designated parking areas will be provided. Access to the timeline program will be via shuttle bus from the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center 

Additional programs will occur throughout the weekend. At the Visitor Center, activities include artillery demonstrations and music by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band. On Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m., a special musical performance by the combined local high school bands of Heritage High, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High, and Ringgold High will take place at the park administrative building. For kids visiting the park over the weekend, there will be several interactive, hands-on activities located at an education tent managed by the park's Teacher-Ranger-Teachers. 

At Snodgrass Hill, visitors will experience the battle from the perspective of Union soldiers portraying members of the 21st Ohio Infantry and Confederate soldiers portraying members of the 7th South Carolina Infantry. Visitors will be provided transportation to these special programs via a shuttle bus. Parking for these programs will be at the Recreation Field, off of Glenn-Kelly Road. 

At the Wilder Brigade Monument, visitors are encouraged to experience the battle action as living historians portraying Wilder's Brigade of mounted infantry demonstrate the intensity of fighting with the Spencer Repeating Rifle. These programs will be conducted at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and  3:00 p.m. 

Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the ultimate moment of the battle – the Confederate breakthrough – by participating in walking tours of Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet's battle-deciding assault on the Union's line. Tours will take place both days at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Parking for this program will be located at the intersection of Glenn-Kelly and Dyer Roads. 

Throughout the weekend, Eastern National Bookstore will be hosting various authors inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. These authors will meet visitors and conduct book signings. 

Please note that all programs will be conducted rain or shine. Most parking will take place in fields throughout the park. In the event of inclement weather, mired vehicles may need to be towed at the owner's expense.