Chattanooga, TN: The Chattanooga Choo Choo 3

We’ve still got a couple of other photosets to go before I’m even done exploring this hotel. In the meantime, take a look at some of the sights and passenger cars/rooms outside the lobby area. I see exactly why someone would want to stay here, though this wasn’t my hotel for the trip. 

Chattanooga, TN: The Chattanooga Choo Choo 1

This hotel used to be the city’s train depot. It’s so nice on the inside! I couldn’t get enough of all the neat old architecture in the building. Also check out the old switchboard in the 5th picture. That device helped route incoming and outgoing trains back in the day. And hey, I came at an opportune time! I had no idea I’d arrive during the building’s 100th anniversary. 

Lookout Mountain, GA (5): Colors and Lover’s Leap

I finally got some shots of the bridges leading up to the viewing area. And I love the colored wall sections. :) 

Check out that waterfall! It’s Lover’s Leap. It’s one of those places where a lot of locals say a Cherokee couple leapt to their deaths for one another, or something along those lines, though stories like these are a dime a dozen in the area. I still like the waterfall though. 

And the last photo is of Balanced Rock. That’s several hundred tons of stone held up by a tiny support. Balanced rock indeed! :o 

Chattanooga, TN (6): Point Park

Another interesting area in the Lookout Mountain neighborhood. The city had several major Civil War battles occur within it. In this area The Battle of Lookout Mountain took place on November 24, 1863. Despite having the advantage of higher ground, the Confederate army was routed by Union forces, completely opening the path for General Sherman to march into GA unchecked. 

The park still has several cannons all around it. I should note the red and white tablets were commissioned by the Civil War vets who fought in the battle, as a means of historical preservation. But it’s not all CSA fare here! That monument is the New York Peace Monument, dedicated to all NY Union military units who fought at Lookout Mountain. It also shows a Union and Confederate soldier shaking hands at the top. 

As for that castle like structure, a photographer and publisher of the Chattanooga Times, Adolph Ochs built this place as a photography studio. It now has a lot of neat old photos and historical info inside it. Though the front end is currently being renovated. 

Lookout Mountain, GA (6): Fairyland Caverns

The name of Fairyland never completely died after the 30′s. Frieda Carter also had an obsession with decorating the area with garden gnomes. She also loved the idea of dedicating a section of Rock City to depictions of fairy tales. She had these figurines specially made in Atlanta and brought here. Some folks might find them charming. I personally think they look creepy with all the black light paint. The last photo is the only one I thought WASN’T a bit creepy in my book. 

Lookout Mountain, GA: See Rock City! 

If you drive South of the Lookout Mountain community in Chattanooga, you’ll cross the state line into North GA. Here you’ll find a tourist attraction that’s an amalgam of natural wonders and the brainchild of a husband and wife duo. These rocks were known as a landmark in the local area for ages, but they never became a tourist attraction until 1924, when Garnet and Frieda Carter planned to convert the area into a golf course called Fairyland. Garnet wound up creating a putt-putt course called Tom Thumb Golf, but the Great Depression put an end to that venture. I’ll continue this place’s history in the next photo set. 

Chattanooga, TN (2): Ruby Falls

This is the main attraction. There is a timed set of fountain lights in the pool at the base of the falls, to add color to the area. 

A bit of interesting history about this place: It was discovered by Leo Lambert, a chemist who was wanting to dig a tunnel down to nearby Lookout Mountain Caverns, hoping to start a tourist attraction there. Instead, he wound up discovering this new cave, and the falls. He named it after his wife, Ruby. 

Charleston, SC 6: Last batch of photos from the trip. The first two photos are of a small square with a gazebo and bell, near the fire department. They’re both so nice looking. 

The third photo is of a beautiful old building that I just happened to get while the sun was beaming down the street. I really love this shot! 

Next is Marion Square. The building in the background looks really over the top doesn’t it? That’s because this used to be the original location of The Citadel from 1843-1922. 

And lastly, we have a very large monument to John C. Calhoun. Calhoun played a major role in shaping SC’s state policy throughout the 19th century, and his ideas of states rights were cornerstones of the CSA’s policy during the Civil War. He’s one of the most, if not the most, controversial figure in the state’s history. And one whose statements and actions you historically can’t sweep under the rug. To learn about SC you, however uncomfortable it may be, have to learn a bit about him. A good many streets and areas in the state are named after him. And this is something the state is going to have to address in the coming centuries.

Charleston, SC 5: The first two shots are of the Presbyterian Church. I loved the architecture so much, I had to get a side view to showcase the steeple and the palmetto trees. You don’t see that everyday back home! 

Next we have an ABC Store (In SC just follow the red dots if you want some whiskey) that was once a tavern. It has been in business serving alcohol since 1685. Dang Charleston! You were even living the high life back then!

From there I have a nice side street view in the waning daylight hours, a look at the custom’s house which was started in 1853, halted in 1859 due to the possibility of secession, and finished in 1879. A very neat landmark! 

Lastly, a advertisement for local seafood. Hey I see why it’s so picky about it. Those shrimp and grits are good man!

Charleston, SC 4: Yeah, I’m still going through all the old buildings on the downtown peninsula. There are just that many within the area. Some are revamped shops, others are still people’s living quarters. And hey the sense of humor on the last building is great. 

Chattanooga, TN (5): St. Elmo

There is a lot to this neighborhood that I need to go back and take pictures of. It has a ton of historic landmarks in the city. I only managed to get this statue. It’s still neat, and it depicts the evolution of man through the ages. The restaurant behind it is also really good, by the way.