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!

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.

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

This large Sculpture park is gorgeous and a big surprise to me while visiting Chattanooga last…read moremonth. It's a free park about 10 minutes drive from downtown with 33 acres to roam on gravel/dirt paths to see a few dozen large-scale sculptures from some world-renowned artists. I really enjoyed myself on a lazy afternoon here and some of these sculptures are incredibly interesting and detailed. Easy to find and a large parking lot with a restroom available.

This place is SO COOL. We had some time to kill in the afternoon before we grabbed dinner with some…read morefriends, and this came up as a spot to visit. It's free and a great way to spend some time outside. You do not need hiking boots for this - you will be fine in a pair of tennis shoes or closed-toe shoes. It's an easy meander through a grass field. Full of tons of sculptures - we spent a little over an hour here looking at all of the sculptures. We saw other people come with items for a picnic, so I think it would also be a perfect spot for an afternoon picnic or to sit and read a book.

We've visited Chattanooga several times, but we realized we'd never been to the art museum. We fell…read morein love with the view of the water as soon as we walked in, and we hadn't even made it to the exhibits yet. We took our time in each gallery, reading and studying the art. It wasn't busy at all, so we had plenty of time and space to enjoy ourselves. Some of my favorites were the still life pieces. All in all, there was a good amount to see, and we'd recommend it as a relaxing afternoon activity for those who appreciate not only the art itself but the history of the pieces. We'd consider coming back again for any new exhibits next time we're in town.

What drew me to the Hunter was the photo of the stunning architecture above the bluff on the…read moreTennessee River. What I found was a pretty decent collection of American art for a small city! ++. The HMAA is really 3 buildings in one : The main building is where the entrance and the gift shop are. It has exhibits and event space. In between the main building and the mansion is a long hallway with series of rooms filled with most of their permanent collection, works from the 20th century. The mansion seems to house earlier works from 18th and 19th centuries and a few from the 20th century . +. There were several pieces that grabbed my attention. Andrew Wyeth's striking The Lobsterman, 1937 from his first one man show. It was painted when he was only 20 years old. Willem de Kooning's Untitled 1969. First of his that didn't cause strong reaction. Edward Curtis' Canyon de Chelly was on exhibit. I was thrilled as it's rare to find Curtis' work in the South. Edward Ruscha's America, Her Best Product 1974-1975 struck me with current tariffs and policy changes. Perhaps so much yet not much has changed in the past 6 decades. James Cameron's View of Moccasin Bend, Chattanooga. It's the site of 12,000 years of continuous human habitation since the Paleo-Indian Period (10,000 BCE - 8,000 BCE), My favorite find was Victor De Grailly's Niagara Falls, c. 1850. It captured the view of the Falls from the American side overlooks Terrapin Point. In 1833, an observation tower was connected to a 300-foot-long wooden bridge to walk above the rushing water! So if you've been to Niagara Falls, you know THIS BRIDGE no longer exists! I soO wish it was still there :) +. The Hunter charges $20pp and $18pp for seniors, students, veterans and others. It's a bit steep for a collection worth apx. 1-2 hour visit. Though it's good to support this non-profit! ++. Service was friendly and informative by Tim? at the front desk. He shared with us that Chattanooga has deep Native American roots with the Cherokee and Trail of Tears while he showed us their 2nd floor balcony. =. Parking is a tiny (~20) private paid lot. It was full and we were lucky to find a street parking nearly. The HMAA owes its legacy to the original owner of the mansion, George Hunter of the Coke Bottling Company. This museum is worth a stop. MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark +. Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE... WHERE have you bee my LiFe!

My husband had never been to Ruby Falls so we went exploring. The site has been around since 1930…read moreand is in great shape! Everything is well maintained and updated. We enjoyed the tour down into the cavern. Our tour guide Michael was funny, easy to understand, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to enjoy his job. Seeing the rock formations and the falls had us in awe of what we saw. It was absolutely beautiful! The video to start and the stories along the way really added to the experience. I appreciated that a sound system had been installed (and well hidden) so we could hear clearly. It was a fun morning!

Ruby Falls has been on my "must see" list for years and every time it pops up in a video on my…read moreinstagram account, I'm more determined to come for a visit. Finally, was able to do it last month. Purchased tickets in advance and showed up with enough time to shop in the gift shop and use the restroom. They have a very nice facility here with plenty of parking, a cafe, a large gift shop, and an observation tower. Spotless inside and well-run. Also, a penny press! Our tour guide, Chuck I believe, was wonderful. Extremely friends and funny and knowledgable about the cave but also about Chattanooga and the surrounding area. They are really doing a lot of tours. Since you walk 0.5 miles to the waterfall underground, it's a bit of a slog to keep getting to the side so groups of 30-40 can go by (tight space). We probably had to do this about 5-6x during our tour. The falls are amazing, but, walking the half mile through the cave and seeing all the other formations was wonderful too. There really are a lot of examples of formations and some unique ones like Angel's Wings, Western Sunset and Leo's Passage. Our group was large, but we had a good time and everyone was polite. The only thing I was disappointed in was that the waterfall wasn't illuminated for us to walk up to it - instead, we walked in in the dark and all crowded around it - so, when the lights came on, I wasn't able to get an approach or long shot of it in full length. They do have first tours of the day and adult-only tours so, if I come back again, I may look into that.

This sculpture garden is part of The River Gallery. The River Gallery is a gallery space in a turn…read moreof the century home that showcases regional and national fine arts and crafts, while the Sculpture Garden is a captivating outdoor experience in a lovely garden setting that showcases sculptures from their permanent collection as well as sculptures available to purchase. Information regarding sculpture purchases is available through The River Gallery. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Sculpture Garden. Since we had our dog with us while visiting the area, we walked along the sidewalk on the street while looking down at the Sculpture Garden. From this vantage point, you're still able to admire a snippet of the lovely curved paths and public works of art. This outdoor garden landscape is supposedly on a two-acre space, and it overlooks the beautiful Tennessee River. The garden is also said to feature not only the works of art to admire but also boasts a meditation area, formal garden, and an informal garden with a recycling mountain stream. If you're in the area and dog free, it's certainly worth a visit.

The River Gallery Sculpture Garden sneaks up on you....or at least it snuck up on us. We were…read moredoing a day trip in Chattanooga, stopped to park for coffee and saw one funky statue, went to check it out and saw another, and another, and wait...what IS this place??? ***Googles*** OHHHH....Sculpture Garden! As others have said, this is really a hidden in plain sight spot that rests on a cliff overlooking a river. Very picturesque, and the sculptures range from small and neat (a group of fish pouring into water) to things that are larger than life and causes you to ponder. On a nice and warm day, you can easily find yourself missing a few hours here, especially if you bring snacks from the nearby restaurants. I was not expecting it. This was not on the itinerary, but i'm very happy we stumbled upon the Sculpture garden. It's kinda awesome, and that it's just on the outskirts of town sets the mood for how your time in Chattanooga will be. True, i'm not some artsy fartsy soul...but being allowed to dabble in this art environment was well received, and the next time I return it wont be by accident! Check this place out!!

Such a beautiful place! The Bluff View Art District is located in a historic neighborhood of…read moreChattanooga, TN, and is noted to be dedicated to the horticultural, visual, and culinary arts. We loved seeing the beautiful architecture of the older buildings, some of which had an old European feel. The old Bluff View Bakery building looked like something magical you may have seen cross the screen of a Harry Potter film. This district was a lovely way to spend an afternoon strolling around the downtown area with our small dog. It has restaurants, cafes, mezzanines, patios, beautiful winding paths, and views of the Tennessee River. This is a more relaxed area of downtown Chattanooga for sure. Depending on when you visit, parking can be limited and difficult to find. Free parking is offered for customers and can be found throughout the district on High St., East Second St. and Spring St. Parking is also available in the middle of the district between Rembrandt's Coffee House and Tony's Pasta Shop. Additional parking can be found at the southern end of the district behind the Bluff View Bakery. In all, visit the Bluff View Art District - you won't regret it!

So lovely! Don't miss it. I think it's the best part of Chattanooga. Park the car and just wander…read more If you see water or the end of a street, just walk to it and you'll discover hidden art, sculptures, beautiful walkways, short staircases...you might even see bakers doing their magic in the pastry kitchen. Stop at Rembrandts coffee and sit/ relax under the trellis. Head over to the art museum area and see more sculptures there. Admire the architecture of 3 buildings of the museum. Keep walking and you'll head towards a pedestrian bridge. Keep going, explore and marvel!

Wow this place was amazing! I am a past preschooler teacher a current nanny a mother and a…read moregrandmother and this place is what's happening! I have decided to buy my 2-year-old grandson in annual pass so his family can take him here as many times as he wants. There is an area in the section for every age group. There was not once where I felt like my two-year-old grandson was going to get ran over by a big kid because everybody had their own areas to excel in. Enjoy my pictures because I don't feel like I can find the words to explain all the awesomeness that is in one building. Have fun kids and caregivers!

This was my first visit with my 4 & 2 yr old. I have wanted to bring my kids here for so long so I…read morethink I had a lot of expectation seeing as it was specifically for kids. I was a little let down. First, admission is pretty hefty. This is an area for kids so I was surprised adult tickets were so expensive. Secondly, not a single hand sanitizer station had any hand sanitizer. We arrived right a 10am when they opened so I was very surprised they were all empty. Thirdly, many of the "buttons" for kids to push didn't work or maybe they weren't suppose to do anything. But I would think if there is a button to push, it should at least make a sound or turn on a light. Lastly, (nothing that the museum can control) but it's hard to fully enjoy the exhibits when parents don't "reset" the area after their child is done playing in it. Parents please be considerate and reset the area when your child is done playing. Better yet teach them to do it themselves along with "taking turns".