Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will hold a special living history program on Saturday, Nov. 5 about the military preparations at Chickamauga Battlefield in 1916 as the nation debated and prepared to enter World War I. Visitors can interact with living historians from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, and formal programs will take place at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
One hundred years ago, in 1916, Congress created the National Park Service to protect and preserve all of our national parks.
But not all of the parks were added to the new agency. At the same time, and in the midst of a contentious presidential election, Americans debated entry into The Great War that had embroiled Europe for four years. Despite his campaign slogan, “He Kept Us Out of War,” President Woodrow Wilson quietly began readying the armed forces, and the national military parks like Chickamauga Battlefield would become not beautiful additions to the new National Park Service, but training grounds for thousands of soldiers.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241 or the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786.