Chattanooga: America’s First National Park City

As we sat on a high perch, a brightly colored Incline Railway car gradually inched toward us up Lookout Mountain’s steep slope. Below us stretched a patchwork of homes, stores, factories and roads built on somewhat level ground between notches in mountains and lofty ridges.

Had we sat in the same spot years ago, we wouldn’t have enjoyed the view.

“Air pollution was so bad that my father built a garage so he could house his new car inside so the air pollution wouldn't corrode the paint,” said Benic Clark III, president of the Lyndhurst Foundation. Water in the nearby Tennessee River was just as polluted, leading journalist Walter Cronkite to name Chattanooga, Tennessee, as “America’s most polluted city.”

We gazed from Lookout Mountain through humid but clear air to see a transformed city. On April 3, 2025, it was designated America’s first National Park City in response to a long-term coordinated and cooperative effort to make Chattanooga a clean, healthy, and enjoyable place to live and work.

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If we had approached the city during its dirty years, we’d have likely kept on driving. Instead, in August, we spent four days based in the historic downtown Read House Hotel dining in and exploring Chattanooga, learning its rich history, driving up steep hillsides to hike trails, and experiencing the city’s rich art and museum culture. We soon realized why the city of 190,000 people deserved joining London, England, and Brisbane, Australia, as National Park Cities.

A quick glance at a United States road map reveals why geography formed Chattanooga’s history. Interstates 24, 75 and 59 converge to form an “X” on the map. Hundreds of years ago, bison and elk found gaps between ridges and mountains and created migration trails.

Native Americans — and later, early settlers — expanded them into roads that took advantage of the terrain. By the 1800s, railroads crisscrossed the area and, much later, Interstate highways followed these easy ways to penetrate otherwise challenging terrain. Steamboats rounded out early transportation on the Tennessee River flowing through town.

Chattanooga’s strategic location wasn’t lost on either the Union or Confederate Armies. Following the Confederate victory of Chickamauga in September 1863, the Union Army fell back to defend Chattanooga. Confederates occupied Lookout Mountain, overlooking the city where they could observe and shell the Yankees until, on Nov. 23, 1863, General Joseph Hooker’s troops swept them away.

Chattanooga’s location, history and natural features create an enormous diversity of attractions that invite visitors and add to the quality of life for locals. But, what about the pollution that once choked the air and fouled river water?

Helped by the 1972 Clean Water Act and enormous cooperative civic activity, the Tennessee River is safe to swim in today, and the air is cleaner. Waterfalls, hiking, mountains, paragliding, caving, kayaking and historic sites surround a city studded with museums, architecture that blends southern and northern style, a diverse cultural climate and distinctive cuisine in its many restaurants. It is a stellar destination to spend a few days.

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Chattanooga only National Park City in the United States

The metamorphosis from polluted industrial city to tourism magnet led to Chattanooga being designated the first (and still only) National Park City in the United States.

The concept was coined by British geographer, explorer and educator Daniel Raven-Ellison in the early 2010s. He founded the National Park City Foundation in 2017, leading to London being named the world’s first National Park City two years later. His vision was embraced by others, and it is now an international movement.

The designation became reality for Chattanooga in early 2025 as the result of cooperation among governments, nonprofits, businesses and neighborhood groups. About 5,600 residents pledged support. This joint effort resulted in creating a “Journey Book” that was a proposal and application. It detailed how many people and organizations worked together to make the town a safe and fascinating place to visit and live in. While we were there, a number of local residents described Chattanooga as “buildings within parks.”

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Clean environment benefits business

Our short visit confirmed the park-like atmosphere of the mountain-ringed town, but we also learned how the cleaned environment boosted the economy.

In August, just before we arrived, the town hosted the Red Bull Creepers, a psicobloc-style climbing competition. While thousands of people watched from the riverbank or boats, competitors climbed amazingly difficult handholds ascending the underside of the Market Street Bridge. It is a little like an outdoor American Ninja Warrior, one of our favorite shows. Some competitors lost their grip and fell unhurt into the river below. Years ago, when water was terribly polluted, such an event would have been impossible.

Unfortunately for us, this event was a “one-off.”

“The Red Bull Creepers event was a one-time thing put on by Red Bull. The Chattanooga River Games, which brought Red Bull to our city, is an annual event,” said Ava Rymer, public relations manager for Chattanooga Tourism.

Something new is always brewing, so travelers should keep an eye on the unique events that the River Games group comes up with.

Another result of a vibrant and clean town is the founding of TEREN, a relatively new company that makes high quality travel and outdoor clothing. The word means “terrain” in Slovakian.

“The quick and easy access to the surrounding beautiful outdoors had a big impact on why TEREN is located here,” said Casey Hyde, co-owner.

Chattanooga houses many museums, and we had time to visit two. The world-renowned Tennessee Aquarium interprets how the river and the wildlife and fish that live in it progress from trout stream headwater to salt water. Nearby is the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center that tells the story of all people who received this honor for their valor.

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On another trip to the area, we plan to visit the Hunter Museum of American Art, the International Towing and Recovery Museum, and the Creative Discovery Museum.

Many people envision the town through the memorable song “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” written by Mark Gordon, composed by Henry Warren and recorded by Glenn Miller in 1941. We visited the Choo Choo at the old depot that inspired the song and climbed on a locomotive and caboose. Nearby is The Hotel Chalet with a caboose where visitors can stay overnight.

Train buffs can visit the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and take one of several scenic train excursions. The most popular one ascends Missionary Ridge.

There is also the popular Incline Railway, a cable car that ascends Lookout Mountain.

Chattanooga is strategically located for any Iowan driving to or from Florida. A Google Map route from Cedar Rapids to Orlando shows almost a direct line right through Chattanooga’s mountain gaps plotted by bison and Native Americans eons ago. It’s about 725 miles from the Corridor to the town and about another 700 miles onward to Orlando.

It’s a perfect place to pause the journey and spend a few days enjoying the area’s diverse culture and natural beauty. Chattanooga’s “re-creating itself” shows that clean air and water and healthy soil are good for the economy and people.