An excerpt from my travel journal.

I wanted to share a portion of my travel journal with everyone including some of the things we experienced yesterday. I hope you enjoy reading. 

Day 5 – Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Tennessee (Monday June, 29, 2015)

The group awoke early on Monday morning to head to The Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. Here our tour was guided by the most inspirational and influential person I have met on the entire trip besides Dr. Wood, his name is Chris Burr and he is a park ranger here. Ranger Chris (which is what I’ve been calling him) used to be a high school history teacher before he stated working for the national park service. The reason I admired him so much is because right now I want to be a history teacher for either middle or high school and then maybe move into another field (in teaching history) eventually. His vast knowledge impressed even Dr. Wood and he was extremely excited to talk to college level students instead the normal children that he encounters regularly. Ranger Chris completed his graduate studies on Military Prison Memorialization and has incredible insight on Military maneuvers that accrued here at Chickamauga. Additionally he literally wrote the book on Andersonville Prison (another site we visited), and the park and its history behind it. His brother was actually the one who guided our tour there. Back to Chickamauga, we took a hike through the same area that Union and Confederate soldiers would have back in 1863. Here the federal government has placed large metal signs detailing the maneuvers of both sides of the armies in this epic battle for the key rail center and the gateway to the heart of the Confederacy. There are also statues and cannons placed along many hiking and biking trails for visitors to admire. This place was very welcoming, except for a bumble bee who did not like us invading his space. This was probably the most we had hiked until we later arrived atop Lookout Mountain. 

A touristy, but extremely fun amusement we enjoyed (or most of us enjoyed) a ride on the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. This is the “world’s steepest incline (railway)" that was originally built in 1895. The history and views from the top of Lookout Mountain are world class. Point Park memorializes and preserves this area, and is now a National Park here. Even though it is not connected to it, it is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This place is famous for the Battle of Missionary Ridge. The mountain and it's town also have a history that goes back to the times of Native Americans and the Trail of Tears. It was very interesting to see what was and wasn’t showcased in Point Park juxtaposed to the breathtaking views. I’m sure there are many people who visit this spot to enjoy themselves and the view, without fully understanding what has happened here.

- Jordy