From the Williams Stairway (also called the Zig Zag Walkway), you can get a great view of the…read moreWalnut Street Bridge but this curious pathway is art in itself. And since it's next to the Hunter Museum of American Art, you should visit both. I was drawn to the stairway by the very odd lines on Google Maps (I've tried to attach a photo, which may or may not be removed by Yelp). And in real life, it's just as odd. The stairway is a back-and-forth walkway from the landing in front of the museum down to the Martin Amphitheater underneath the bridge or continue on to the Riverwalk. For the photographer, you'll find all sorts of interesting angles to get pretty pictures for your Instagram. There is also the Bluff View Sculpture Garden. [Review 18810 overall - 346 in Tennessee - 2333 of 2022.]

Looking at it, my thoughts were who '...would want to walk that if there's an alternate path down…read moreadjacent to it??' But it does look beautiful and artsy.

Can't say a whole lot about this spot, other than the fact that it's certainly a unique house!…read more I've see news stories and reels about this flying saucer house in Chattanooga many times, and loved seeing it in person...maybe one day I'll get a chance to go in, but until then it's still a fun spot to pass by. If you like unique road side attractions, this is one worth detouring for!

Painted a metallic silver, this is literally a spaceship complete with a landing ramp that opens…read moreand closes for entry. From the road, it is quite visible. The house is on private property, so I wouldn't recommend trespassing. The house was built in 1970 of reinforced concrete, acrylic and fiberglass. Constructed by Curtis King as a bachelor pad, the house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms and a total of 2000 square feet. There is a spot on the side of the road where you can leave your car - use the parking brake - and view the house. Expect ten minutes and you can be on your way. [Review 18828 overall - 359 in Tennessee - 2351 of 2022.]

I didn't expect to enjoy Rock City as much as I did and I almost didn't come bc it was 97 degrees…read morelast month while I was in town. I'm so glad I googled and saw that it's about 90% shade in the beautiful natural rock formations and caves that make up the majority of the park. Plenty of parking, charming location, and gorgeous natural scenery and rock with the park built to complement and draw upon what nature has already done. I was alone, but plan to bring my two-year old back in a few years when she's old enough to enjoy this, I think she will absolutely love it. Lover's Leap is stunning and my favorite of the 4 paths was Hall of the Mountain King. This place is amazing. Touristy? Sure. But worth it. You can tell the amount of attention to detail and love that went into developing every part of this place. Nothing is looked over. Even the sidewalks have small design elements built in. Love! This brought me back to the years of my childhood spent climbing rocks and building dams in our creek in rural Virginia. Let the imagination run wild!

The hike doesn't feel like a hike at all. Stairs are built in. Creative and fun. I feel like this…read moreis a place where artist came together and was able to express their creativity. The only notice I'll give is that there are some points where you have to be thin to pass through. I am sure there is another way around but I didn't look.

I LOVE a fun public art space! I noticed one of the swing while downtown but didn't know exactly…read morewhat it was. Today I stopped by to swing a little and discovered the "Blue Zone! Check out one of my photos to read about all the awesome groups that brought the project to the city! The swings are mainly on the corner of Georgia and Market but one is at Miller park too! You'll also see a few of the red or orange chairs too. What a cool space!

One of the tell-tale signs of URBAN RENEWAL in the United States is the sudden explosion of Street…read moreArt emerging within the local architectural landscape. I have witnessed it in many cities, but I was not fully aware that Chattanooga, TN had joined the game until a recent (and way too brief) visit to the city. I LOVE ART, for so many reasons. I love the power of expression without the need for words. I love the multifaceted ability art has to speak one thing to one person, and something completely different to another and yet both are inspired in powerful ways. In terms of street art, I particularly like the flavor it adds to a community and how it can transform a dilapidated area into a culturally rich environment for growth, acceptance, diversity and revitalization. My love of art does not typically involve abstract art (such as Picasso), but Street Art gives such a high volume of emotion and personal statement that not only can it touch your soul in unexpected ways, but it also gives you a strong glimpse into the mind of the artist. Street Art can often times act as a bridge between opposing sides, many times showing the connective fibers we all share with one another. It is this reason that it disturbs me when I see it being disrespected by property owners that may not value it as much as they should. Take for example the building occupants at the northwest corner of Cowart St. & West Main St. A beautifully designed mural awaits visitors there, but is littered with crates and other rubbish, some blocking or covering the art. While I get that art doesn't move everyone, I still think that it should be respected. There are some property owners that disregard it while others decorate it with planters or add outdoor patios to highlight and proudly feature it! Art is probably one of the most sobering reflections of real life there is... from the subject matter itself to the way each individual responds to it. Some will marvel at its beauty, some are stopped in their tracks as if it audibly called to them, while others pass works of art as if there is nothing special or meaningful about them. However, I get a strong feeling the residents of Chattanooga will embrace art so deeply that eventually the entire city will, in itself, become a gallery. What a glorious gallery it will be in a city that already has so much natural beauty. TO LOCAL CHATTANOOGANS I only had a few hours to visit but created this page not only to celebrate the happenings in your city, but in hopes you will add more photos as you find these hidden gems around town. I would love to be able to revisit this page and see all the wonderful murals I missed on this visit, so please keep an eye out for the beauty of murals and sculptures that blanket your lovely city like wildflowers randomly popping up in a country field. I will look forward to all your photos with eager anticipation! TO CHATTANOOGA STREET ARTISTS I love what you do! Whether you practice only as a local artist or travel to different cities around the globe for your commissioned work, I admire your visionary skills to transform thought into stunning visual effect for all to see. In the military, there are some units designed to go in and prepare areas for the soldiers that will follow. Laying the groundwork and clearing the way for change and progress. YOU ARE THOSE SOLDIERS!!! If you are an artist with an upcoming street mural, please feel free to contact me via Yelp messages and invite me to see your work as you are in the process of transferring it from paper to reality. I WOULD LOVE to witness a street mural from the first paint stroke onto an exterior wall to the last brilliant final touch! It would be my honor to hold a ladder or make a coffee run or anything to be of voluntary use to your cause!!! I will drive 2 hours from my home in Georgia just to be a part of it if you ask! 2018/37

So I was out at Cooliage Park/ Walnut Bridge and on my way out when I spotted this "Key Fence"! It…read morecaught my enought to turn around and take a closer look. Thousands of keys attached to a fence! When I finally left I noticed Key Title. I stopped in in my next visit to the park to ask if the art installations was theirs. It's not but a really nice employee told me that it was here before Key moved in. It was just an ironic coenicdence! I've searched the web but haven't found any information about when it started, who started it but I think it's a fun stop should you be in the area! The keys are for the most part attached by zip ties. There are even some complete key rings attached to which makes me wonder the story behind that. And yes, I'm planning on adding a key (or more)! Chattanooga's key Fence, much better than Seattle's gum wall so at least there's that!

Wonderful riverfront parks and trails in Chattanooga and a pedestrian bridge! Lovely place to…read morestroll.

I see this Rhino almost every time I visit Coolidge Park and it recently crossed my mind that the…read moresculpture reminds me of the Blue Dog in the Bluff View Art District that was made by artist Mark Chatterley. They're both in the Chattanooga color of blue and both have a texture and both animals but alas, no. (Seriously, have you noticed how many things are named blue in Chattanooga....) Sadly there is no art plaque on the majestic blue rhino so my search started. The lovely lady at River Gallery definitely knew that it wasn't a Chatterley piece but had no new info on the sculpture. A quick search on the Google gave me what I was looking for. The piece which is actually named "Blue Boy Push Toy #1" was created by local artist, John Petrey. And Blue Boy had a bit of hot gos (gossip) to joining to Chattanooga art scene. Seems the Chattanooga City Council had a split vote on to purchase or let him go back in 2011. Even though funds were allocated, not sure why there was an issue. Blue Boy's price of $35,000 fit into the budget, he was created by a local artist and well, he's beautiful. Maybe it was because he's in a wagon? And there were thoughts of someone would haul him away?? Well, lucky for us, he has become a permanent part of our amazing public art collection. And please, don't get any ideas on trying to roll him out of the park......

Some friends and I decided to walk the streets of Chattanooga on New Years Day in search of outdoor…read moreart installations still intact and murals. We discovered a couple installations still up from the Passageways collection last year and some cool murals. River City Company partners with artists to showcase different types of artwork throughout the year. I highly recommend strolling through Cooper's Alley behind Mad Priest and on the part of Main Street by Mean Mug and Clyde's to discover unique outdoor art in this town.

Of course I love this huge blue doggie. It stands I'd say 6 feet and looks over the Bluff Arts…read moreDistrict beside house B. It's one of the largest pieces artist Mark Chatterley has done. He was commissioned by the River Gallery for the work. Man, even in art, Chattanooga loves their doggies! Be sure to walk around the entire Bluff Arts District to see this impressive pup and so many more amazing pieces of art. You can see more of Mark Chatterley's art at the River Gallery. Several of the works had the same technique as Blue Dog.

Finding a Stolpersteine https://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?q=+Stolpersteine when…read morewalking the streets of a European city is a jarring experience and I had the same feeling when I started reading what happened to Ed Johnson here in Chattanooga. The United States has a dark history and it wasn't all that long ago. This memorial points out one of those incidents. Ed Johnson was murdered by a lunch mob following a conviction for a rape but the Supreme Court had issued a stay of execution. Because they felt that there might be a stay, the mob broke into the jail and killed Johnson. In response, President Theodore Roosevelt directed the Secret Service to help investigate the crime, which resulted in the Hamilton County Sheriff being found guilty for contempt of court (the only criminal trial ever held by the United States Supreme Court). Nearly a century later, Johnson's conviction was overturned on the grounds that he did not receive a fair trial due to the all-white jury and the refusal to move the trial to a new jurisdiction due to the publicity over the case. The monument celebrates Ed Johnson's cruel murder and sacrifice, pays tribute to Noah Parden, Styles Hutchins, and the African-American community that helped them, and remembers the Supreme Court case that forever altered American history and civil rights. Johnson is not the only person represented in the figures of the memorial. Take the time to read the plaques and understand what happened here. [Review 18808 overall - 344 in Tennessee - 2331 of 2022.]