Residents and visitors will have an opportunity to honor Memorial Day with free admission and special ranger-guided programs Monday at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
In observance of Memorial Day, entrance fees to Point Park on Lookout Mountain will be waived Monday, May 25, allowing visitors free access to the historic site.
Park officials say the day serves as an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by thousands of Americans who lost their lives during some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil War.
Several free ranger-guided programs are scheduled throughout the day at both Point Park and the Chickamauga Battlefield.
At Point Park, a ranger-led program titled “The Struggle for Chattanooga” will begin at 11 a.m. inside the entrance gate. The 45-minute presentation will provide an overview of the Siege and Battles for Chattanooga.
At the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, a “Car Caravan Driving Tour” begins at 10 a.m. The 90-minute to two-hour guided tour will give participants an overview of the Battle of Chickamauga. After an introduction at the visitor center, guests will follow a park ranger in their personal vehicles to three battlefield stops to learn about key people, locations and events connected to the historic battle.
Later in the afternoon, a program titled “Fire on the Farm” will begin at 2 p.m. at the visitor center. The 45-minute presentation will focus on the fighting that took place at the McDonald Farm on Sept. 20, 1863.
Park officials said programs will move indoors or be modified in the event of inclement weather.