Discover Chattanooga Story By Ann Cipperly
S
ituated at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on the banks of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga is surrounded by scenic mountains and ridges. During the autumn months, Lookout and Signal Mountains are ablaze in brilliant fall foliage. With fresh mountain breezes, Chattanooga offers a wide gamut of outdoor attractions everyone in the family will enjoy. In its early years, the city had two different names, Ross’s Landing and Lookout City. In 1838, the official name became “Chattanooga,” which comes from the Creek Indian word for “rock coming to a point” (aka. Lookout Mountain). Chattanooga is nicknamed Scenic City with its numerous outdoor adventures, sites and activities. Take an exhilarating ride on the trolley-like Incline Railway as it scales steep Lookout Mountain to reach Ruby Falls and Rock City with sweeping panoramic views. At the top of the summit, seven states are visible. Tour Rock City Gardens and explore the caves at Ruby Falls to the spectacular waterfall. Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the country. The waterfall was accidentally discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, a chemist and cave enthusiast, while exploring Lookout Mountain. He named the falls after his wife, “Ruby.” Lambert constructed the glass-front elevator that descends 260 feet down into Lookout Mountain. The attraction opened to the public in December 1929. Electric lights were installed in the caves in 1930. As visitors approach the falls, ancient and unique formations are visible along the cavern trail. When Rock City opened to the public in May 1932, not many visitors were touring the site. The owner hired a young painter to travel the country’s highways and offer to paint barns for free in exchange for
—50—
