Civil War Experiences: A Field Trip to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

A man dressed as a Confederate soldier talks to students in front of a statue
Field trips are a great way for students to reinforce their classroom learning about the Civil War

NPS/C. Barr

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park preserves the landscapes in around Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Union and Confederate Armies clashed during the summer and fall of 1863 during the American Civil War. The vast majority of students who visit Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park do so in support of their curriculum related to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Curriculum Standards
A Civil War Experiences field trip to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military will reinforce the following topics with your students:

- The Causes of the Civil War, including the role of slavery and states' rights in the secession crisis.
- How and why armies fought over the city of Chattanooga
- The consequences of the Civil War, including the Reconstruction amendments.

Rangers will tailor the specific topics covered based on the grade level and state standards for your individual class.

Field Trip Locations

Civil War Experiences can be a ranger-guided field trip conducted at Chickamauga Battlefield or at Lookout Mountain Battlefield (Point Park).

If you are unable to schedule a physical field trip to the park, check out some of our educational videos on Early American Indians, Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears, Causes of the Civil War, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Geography.

Things to Do During Your Field Trip

In addition to a ranger-guided program on the Civil War in the Chattanooga area, there are other things for you to do as well.

If you are visiting Chickamauga Battlefield, most school groups chose to watch the orientation film, and go through the museum exhibits, and many go out into the park on their own to explore independently or visit one of the park's picnic areas. If you are watching the video, touring the museum, and utilizing a picnic area in addition to your program, you should plan on spending around three hours at Chickamauga Battlefield.

If you are visiting Point Park at Lookout Mountain, there is a small museum exhibit at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center, although there is no park film. Please note that if you are planning on utilizing the Incline Railroad or visiting the "Battles for Chattanooga," that these are privately run businesses who are not connected to the park. You will need to visit their websites to coordinate any visits with them independently.
 
Chickamauga Battlefield Education Program Request Form
If you are interested in bringing your students to participate in a ranger-led program at Chickamauga Battlefield (3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglehtorpe, GA 30742), please complete and submit this form. There is NO charge for the program. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 
Lookout Mountain Battlefield Education Program Request Form
If you are interested in bringing your students to participate in a ranger-led program at Lookout Mountain Battlefield - Point Park (110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350), please complete and submit this form. There is NO charge for the program. If your students are 16 years of age or older, you will need to complete the Academic Fee Waiver Request section. However, if your students are 15 years of age or younger, you will not need to complete the Academic Fee Waiver Request section.  

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 

For directions to the visitor centers at Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain Battlefield, see the information below.

Last updated: April 25, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

3370 LaFayette Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

Phone:

706-866-9241

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