Old restored mansion from late 1700s owned by Chief Vann of the Cherokee Indian people. Lovely…read morehistoric home that is a sad reminder of the Trail of Tears. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

We had a trip to the Vann House on our radar for quite some time. They do an annual candle-lit…read moretour of the house and a few buildings on the grounds. And I'm glad we went! This place was quite the glimpse into our state's past. There's enough here to make any history buff happy--a wonderful educational experience for all ages, with an interpretive center that is rich with information. The house is a very nicely restored Mansion once owned by a Cherokee Chief, James Vann. Construction on the house was completed in 1804. The "Friends of the Chief Vann House" take a great deal of pride in their restoration efforts, and there are plenty of volunteers around during the candle-light tour to clue you in on history and trivia about the occupants. They don't seem to pull any punches when talking about the Trail of Tears, and how the Cherokee were treated back then. Vann House was working plantation with slaves, so there is also a good deal of information about the treatment of the estate's slaves, getting down to some history on specific individuals. The amount of research that has been done on the Vann House is impressive. They also have "Vann House Days" during the summer. And the site is not far from New Echota Historic Site. Next time we'll visit both when we're in the area. Holler if you're coming with.

This was a great atop about 1 hour away from Atlanta. Besides being a historic battle field, it is…read morea wide open space and hiking trails around the edge. There is a picnic area and lots of good historic information. We spent about an hour here. The trail is about 2.5 miles, we did about half then cut through the field. You can really feel the history come alive.

Interesting site for history buffs like myself…read more It's a little off the beaten path, but the site is now clearly marked with signage everywhere. Yes, it's mostly green space marked by signs and informational plaques commemorating certain areas that had specific action involving the Battle of Resaca (the Confederate Cemetery is down the road now) and replicas of old Civil War canons, a huge walking/nature trail and public restrooms. The marked battlefield area is quite large, actually, and is marked by signs detailing information about integral parts of the battle, a timeline of the 1860s, and biographical information regarding key players in the Civil War, particularly the Battle of Resaca, which happened here on this site. The nature area is nice and perfect for walking or biking the trails. If you're interested in history or hiking, it's a great spot to see. Otherwise, if you're looking for huge monuments or reenactments, this isn't the spot for that. I recommend looking for the Confederate Cemetery nearby to complete your tour of the Resaca Battlefield Historic Site. I like history, so I found the area interesting and the walking trails along the area are great.

Wonderful place to learn about Cherokee history. This was the original site of New Echota. Most of…read morethe original buildings are gone. There are replicas of buildings. Some period buildings had been moved to the site. There is one original house that has been refurbished and brought back to the period. Can also see the Indian alphabet, printing press, and the newspaper. We entered the park with a senior yearly pass. If you are interested in the Cherokee Indians, this is one of many places in the area to visit.

My husband and I visited today and I have been gnawing on how to put this. Basically if you want…read morean incredibly white washed version of history go ahead. I however, recommend visiting an actual reservation and speaking to the people to get real history. It is history, it did happen and this is how it happened but if you walk away believing that the real Cherokee people were perfectly happy giving up their culture and adopting ours, you're crazy.

The Cravens House is a historic landmark on Lookout Mountain, known for its role in the Civil War…read moreand its sweeping views. Built in 1856 by Robert Cravens, a Chattanooga industrialist, it originally served as his summer retreat. During the Civil War, the house became a headquarters and observation point for both Union and Confederate forces, playing a key role in the famous "Battle Above the Clouds." The original structure was destroyed during the war, but Cravens later rebuilt it. Today, the house is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, offering visitors a glimpse into the past as well as access to scenic hiking trails.

If you love history, views, and hidden gems, you have to visit Cravens House on Lookout Mountain in…read moreChattanooga, Tennessee. This place is absolutely fascinating -- it's the oldest surviving home on the mountain, built in 1856 by Robert Cravens, and it literally sat in the middle of the Battle Above the Clouds during the Civil War. It's wild to think this quiet, peaceful spot was once the site of major fighting, and yet the house still stands today! The home is part of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, and the rangers do a fantastic job explaining the history and significance of the area. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the surrounding trails -- especially the Cravens-to-Sunset Rock hike -- offer some of the best views in all of Chattanooga. Even if you're not a huge history buff, the mix of scenery, storytelling, and atmosphere makes this a really special stop. It's calm, educational, and surprisingly moving to walk where history actually happened. Highly recommend adding this to your Chattanooga itinerary -- it's a five-star experience all around! https://linktr.ee/reessroots

Went here in the afternoon with my husband and kids (age 7&8). We did the guided tour and it was…read morewonderful! The inside museum is self guided. We took probably 20-30 minutes inside, then hopped on a golf cart for the guided part of the tour. It ended up taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Our guide was so knowledgeable and made learning fun (per my kids!). If you want to learn a little history in a relaxed and engaging environment, you should stop in here! Keep in mind that most of the tour/museum is outside, so if you don't want to get wet or be too cold or too hot, plan your visit with the weather in mind.

Our guide, Jody, made it great! Upon driving up to the museum, we didn't expect much and inside the…read moresmall museum wasn't much. But once we boarded the golf cart on the guided tour with Jody, that all changed. The weather was great, which always helps but the knowledge Jody shared at each stop took us back in history. As a teacher, I appreciated each detail and he (Jody) was always ready to answer questions. The property around the museum is where all of the history took place and Tunnel Hill takes great pride in their local treasure. I was surprised to learn all the seemingly small place had to offer. Kudos to all the people who work hard to keep this place alive. My kids and I had a great visit! I will note that it is more for middle school and up. And it's good for the kids to already have some knowledge about the Civil War. I only rate it one star less than perfect because the displays and mannequins need quite a bit of updating. You do have to have a good guide!

This was something I very much wanted to see while in Chattanooga. I remember learning about the…read moreTrail of Tears in school in Virginia but, hadn't known a great deal about it. I read about it before visiting and was very impressed by this monument paying tribute to the Cherokee nation and the suffering of those forced from their ancestral lands by mass exodus and essentially a death march, hence the name. I was surprised to see that this is a monument that the city allows you to fully walk, play, and swim in and there were dozens of families with children playing and splashing in the water. It was something I'm not used to seeing and I thought it was wonderful that the city allows this. It was extremely hot the day I visited in July but also, this is interactive and encourages people to come and spent time here. It's a physical tribute to the countless tears shed no doubt during this event and a powerful tribute to a darker part of American history.

The Passage is a permanent exhibit near the aquarium, and pays tribute to the seven clans of the…read moreCherokee Nation through symbolism. The Trail of Tears, when Cherokee tribes were forced from their lands in Chattanooga to Oklahoma, started nearby. The Passage is a walkway, where people can see the Weeping Wall, representing the tears shed as Cherokees were forced from their homes and made to walk the Trail of Tears. 7 disks along the Weeping Wall tell the story of the Cherokee Nation. Facing the Tennessee River are 7 figures playing stickball. Playing the important game of stickball provided a way for members of the Cherokee Nation to settle disagreements, even to the point of players getting injured or killed. Just my opinion, but I think this a valuable exhibit that should be maintained a lot better and treated with respect. During my visit, to The Passage, there were a lot of people wading in the water, and wall that the stainless steel stickball players are on appeared water damaged.

Euharlee (pronounced You-Harley) Creek Covered Bridge is so much more than just an old bridge. It…read moreis also a village of historic buildings and the ruins of a forgotten mill. It is the BLACK HISTORY of not only the bridge, but the surrounding area that drove me to revisit. [ THE BRIDGE ] Built in 1886 by Washington King, the son of Horace King, a slave who earned his freedom by building covered bridges throughout the south. Euharlee remains one of the oldest surviving wooden covered bridges in the state of Georgia and has a length of 138 feet. North of the bridge are the ruins of a Grist Mill built in 1835. [ THE MUSEUM ] Since my 2014 visit, they have acquired an old school building and expanded the bridge and other historic buildings to include a Museum. It was here I met the Curator and her assistant, whose veteran husband, David Ford, has direct family ties to the local history and is featured in the museums displays. I called prior to my arrival, so they were expecting me. I say this affectionately, but the ladies of the museum held me hostage! I had no idea the wealth of information they were ready to share and had not properly allotted time, especially since a good portion of my day was consumed at the Bartow County History Museum and the long drive to Bartow itself. We covered a lot of ground in a short time frame and often they would stop and ask me if it was too much information. They were fully aware that I might be getting overwhelmed, but sweetly and courteously asked for my pardon because COVID-19 had not brought them many visitors and they were beyond excited to have me. I simply can't tell you how amazing each of the sites I visited in the Cartersville-Bartow area made me feel. SPECIAL is a gross understatement. One new feature I was unaware of was the temporary path through the BLACK PIONEERS CEMETERY, which was used to bury slaves prior to the Civil War and local African-American residents after the Civil War. They are hoping to raise enough funds to properly construct with gravel, sitting benches, a re-creation of tombstones and more informational signs. This is a project I hope to volunteer to be a part of considering landscape design is a specific skill I possess. I would LOVE to contribute to preserving the history here, albeit quite a distance from my home. [ OTHER FEATURES ] * A Traveler's Well that was hand dug by settlers. * The 1800's Calaboose or mini-jail to house the occasional criminal. The building still has its original iron bars. * Militia Courthouse to keep law and order. * Masonic Hall that is still in use (construction date unknown) * Baptist Church originally designed with separate entrances for men and women. * 1853 Presbyterian Church * Blacksmith Shop (Late 1800's) * 1860's General Store & Mercantile (burned in 1887 and reconstructed). * 1860's Commissary now used as a Community Center. * 1860's Granary * 1850's Cow Shed * The house of the grist mill operators. * Milam Bridge is a camel-back steel truss bridge that was burned in 1864 during the Civil War. Rebuilt in 1912 and remained in service until the 1970's. [Source: City of Euharlee historic brochure] [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Sadly, the black cemetery was almost forgotten by the 1990's, but an investigation discovered over 333 known burials. Of those only three individuals have been identified. Het Powell (a former slave), her daughter Ada and a man named Jim Scott. Records show Het was married when enslaved and had four children. Her son, Lee, was sold to a different slaveowner and Het never saw him again. The one acre plot dates back to 1830. Settled in the 1840's as Burge's Mill until being incorporated in 1852 as Euharleeville before its final name change in 1870 to Euharlee (which is Native American meaning she laughs as she runs). Excellent place to learn a little history and see relics dating before the Civil War. The bridge is open to foot traffic and is anchored by two parks: Osborne Park and Frankie Harris Park. 2021 / 32 #BlackHISTORYseries

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Here at Lula Lake Land Trust in Lookout Mountain, Georgia (20 miles southwest of Chattanooga,…read moreTennessee), this is a fun little journey, a 4-mile out and back or roundtrip hike getting to experience the prized highlight here...120-foot Lula Falls. The area around Lula Falls is private property. The Board of Trustees are sensitive about protecting the ecology of this land and so...visiting capacity is greatly reduced. In order to visit, you must book a reservation online ahead of time at lulalake.org. It's $16 entry per car, regardless of the number of passengers. Visitation dates are totally out of the norm, outside guests can enter the grounds on the first and last weekends of each month. That's 4 days per month and 48 days out of the entire year! Eye opening when you think about that statistic within the bigger picture of making plans to see Lula Falls. The pathway trail to reach Lula Falls is moderately easy. Follow the gravel dirt road for the first 1.5 out of 2 miles. Along the way, on the left hand side of the trail is a terrific overlook of Lula Falls. Although you can enter down to the falls taking Old Falls Trail, those stair steps are pretty steep. It was suggested to me to walk just a little further down to Lula Falls Trail and follow that pathway to Lula Falls. Upon arriving at the heart of it all, Lula Falls is mighty impressive, a magical wonder of a waterfall plunging 120 feet in a straight free-fall. While the sun was shining, I even caught a rainbow at the base of the falls which made the setting here somewhat of a pause in time moment. Backdrops like these don't come around often, I was relishing it all. Feeling thankful and blessed would describe things well. There's no swimming at the falls and I respect that, just enjoying the beauty of the falls was good enough for me. On the return trip back towards the entrance, you can follow the Bluff Trail above the forest tree-line to a panoramic clearing from high atop Lookout Mountain. It's a good chance to view the Chattanooga Valley from an undisturbed vantage point. You can finish out the hike taking the Bluff Trail almost all the way back to the start, or the Middle Trail is just as good too. But if you enjoy hiking in nature, either pathway will get the job done. Overall, getting to venture out to Lula Lake Land Trust and hike to Lula Falls was a joyous occasion for me, someone who loves the great outdoors and takes nothing for granted. Thank you for having me.

Beautiful hike at Lula Falls. It is about 4 miles round trip. We went in May when it wasn't hot but…read morewas still warm enough that my jacket didn't stay on long. The trails are well maintained and easy except for the last quarter mile to the lower falls. Worth the trek down to the lower falls area. A bit of a challenge for this 62 year old but slow and steady won the day. We enjoyed a nice lunch in the picnic area near the stairs to the lower falls.

It was built in 1820 and has a pretty interesting history that you can read about on the sign…read more Very cool bridge that makes for a great photo opportunity. I've seen people do engagement shoots, family photos, etc on the bridge as well as over on the rocks. We have not done photos here we just come here to explore the area and let the kiddos run out some of their energy. They like to run back and forth on the bridge and play on the rocks as well as explore the playground.

This park is a little off of the beaten path. It is really scenic and worth the effort to get to…read more I went on a day that was a dreary, but the upside was that nobody else was there. The rain also made the little falls rush a little bit more dramatically. The main attraction is the now covered with graffiti bridge. Historical and full of vibe. The trails are not that long but if you go all the way around you will be able to get some cardio. I think that you could sit and get some inspiration here, if your that type of person. I would recommend checking this place out at least once.

One of the benefits of traveling is the cool little things that you can stumble across that if you…read moreweren't in that town, you would never have known even existed. I was out taking a walk in twenty-eight degree weather this morning, trying to get some walk in before my business meeting, and came across this old schoolhouse with such a historical importance. The house is from 1858, think about it, this house was here when the Civil War was ravaging our great nation. This house was here as our country built from a loose confederation of states, it seen our country attempt to split, and also witnessed this country turn from those loose collection of states into the great fifty states that we now know. I have always embraced history. It has always fascinated me the past footsteps that led us to where we stand today. This house is a testimony to the history of our country.