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    Walker County Regional Heritage Museum

    5.0 (1 review)

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    Lee and Gordon Mill

    Lee and Gordon Mill

    4.7(3 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Pre and post civil war History. It was there and used during the battle of Chickamauga. If you are…read morea civil war era buff then this is a great place to start. It is next to the Chickamauga Battlefield which has a great museum and loads of tours and the cannons and placements were placed by veterans who fought in the actual battles. This whole area is packed full of history.

    Tony and I happened across this lovely plantation style home on one of our drives in the back…read morecountry roads of Tennessee in Chickamauga, Ga and there was mention of this Mill...so we went looking for it. It is located a few towns over in Ringgold, GA, it was closed so we just walked around and took some pictures. Found some history about it so I thought I would share and review. I would definitely go back here again. Seems very interesting. Great for a day trip from Nashville only 2.5 hrs one way ...if you like taking a driving and seeing what's around the next turn..you must go!!! History: Lee and Gordon's Mills, one of the oldest mills in the state of Georgia, is located about 2 miles east of the center of town on the west bank of the Chickamauga Creek. The mill was built by James Gordon, who came from Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1836. The mill served as the first general store in the area. A blacksmith shop was located nearby and the stagecoach and mail passed twice each week. Some time after the War Between the States a covered bridge spanned the creek by the mill, eventually torn down in the early 1900's. Click on the painting above and you'll see all of the early structures plus many of the citizens of the day. During the War Between the States, on September 9-10, 1863, the mill served as the headquarters of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by General Braxton Bragg. On September 10, Gen Bragg moved his headquarters south to LaFayette Georgia and Union troops occupied the mill and surrounding area the next day. Skirmishes between the opposingPost War Mill photo armies occurred September 13-18 with the major Battle of Chickamauga drawing the troops to the north on September 19-20, 1863. The mill then served as a headquarters for Wheeler's cavalry corps, but was recaptured in the winter of 1863 by Union troops who used the second story as a Masonic Lodge. The wartime mill burned in 1867. Shortly thereafter, James Lee, a partner in the mill, rebuilt the mill on the same site, which still stands today. The mill was operated by different owners until 1967 and stood empty and neglected until 1993 when Mr. Frank Pierce purchased the mill and restored it to operating condition and rebuilt the dam. Corn meal, ground by the mill, can be purchased today at the mill and rental buildings on the property may be used for all types of gatherings. The following photos show the mill as it appears today, ready for your visit. The City has recently entered into a lease agreement to operate the Mill. For more information, please feel free to visit their website. Parking is plentiful and free and no admission is charged. Winter Hours: Tues-Sat 9 am to 5 pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Phone 706-375-6801 for more information on tours or rentals.

    Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum - Homefront Tea Room with our Private Room view

    Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

    4.4(389 reviews)
    14.4 mi

    Absolutely Unforgettable - The Hiwassee River Rail Adventure is Pure Magic!…read more I hadn't been on a real train in years, so when I spotted an Instagram video of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Hiwassee River excursion, I knew it was the perfect way to celebrate my mom's birthday. We made the 3-hour drive from home, and let me tell you - it was 100% worth every mile! We timed our trip for a Friday in mid-November, after hearing the fall colors were peaking a bit late this year. With just enough leaves fallen, the views of the majestic Hiwassee River opened up dramatically through the trees. Riding midday was key: the sunlight danced across the water, creating that breathtaking "jewel effect" John Muir raved about over 150 years ago when he walked these very banks: "My path all to-day led me along the leafy banks of the Hiwassee, a most impressive mountain river... Such a river is the Hiwassee, with its surface broken to a thousand sparkling gems, and its forest walls vine-draped and flowery as Eden." He wasn't exaggerating - the river truly sparkled like a thousand gems under the autumn sun, framed by the rugged gorge and Cherokee National Forest. It felt like stepping into a living postcard (or Eden itself!). This was the very last Hiwassee Loop trip of the season, and tickets were down to the final four when I booked - we ended up in coach class, but it was perfectly comfortable. The roughly 4-hour round-trip journey (50 miles through the stunning lower Hiwassee Gorge) flew by. We wandered freely between cars, snapped incredible photos and videos from the open-air vestibules (fresh mountain air + epic vistas = perfection), and soaked in the engineering marvel of the historic Hiwassee Loop where the tracks spiral over themselves. The staff were fantastic - friendly, hilarious, and full of fascinating stories about the railroad's history, the local area, and the wildlife along the route. This isn't just a train ride; it's a one-of-a-kind adventure that blends nostalgia, nature, and pure joy. If you're debating it... book it now! You won't regret experiencing one of the most scenic rail journeys in the Southeast. Highly recommend for families, nature lovers, history buffs, or anyone needing a memorable escape. We'll be back!

    We booked the one hour train ride with dinner at the depot and that part was on me. I assumed…read moredinner would be served on the train, but we were actually seated upstairs in the depot. It is a very old, nostalgic building, but once we saw the setup I started to worry about the food and unfortunately that instinct was right. The salad was honestly the best part and tasted like a bagged mix. The hors d'oeuvres were hummus, goat cheese, and tomatoes. Just okay, and I normally love goat cheese. We preordered herb chicken with potatoes and asparagus, and salmon with potatoes. The salmon looked pretty but tasted awful and was overcooked. Whatever it was sitting on underneath was not edible. My honey's chicken came out undercooked and bloody. When he sent it back, the waiter, who I truly felt bad for, was told to explain it away as normal near the joint. It is not normal. The replacement chicken was still bloody. That should never happen. Dessert was cheesecake and strawberry crème brûlée. The cheesecake was good. The crème brûlée tasted artificial and missed the mark. The train ride itself was decent, but since it was at night there was not much to see. I would have preferred doing the ride first while there was still some daylight and then dinner after, but that may have been in the details I missed. Next time I would do just the train ride and skip the dinner.

    Photos
    Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum - Wonderful moment

    Wonderful moment

    Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum - Christmas dinner train 2024

    Christmas dinner train 2024

    Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum - Passenger cars were clean and well kept.

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    Passenger cars were clean and well kept.

    Creative Discovery Museum - The riverboat climbing are

    Creative Discovery Museum

    4.7(113 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    I remember taking my daughter there maybe 20+ years ago. Not much after they opened. Kids love it…read moreand my 6 year old grandson wanted to stay when I was ready to leave after 3 hours :-) If you go be sure to look around because there are tons of activities and things for kids to do and explore. They also have a cafeteria, which I found by accident. The only complaint I might have is some of the activities on the second level were in disrepair or not well maintained. Still if you have kidlets, highly recommended. Don't forget if you have an aquarium membership, you get a discount!!

    We took our son to Chattanooga for a surprise birthday trip and concluded our weekend visit with a…read moretrip to the Creative Discovery Museum and I am so happy that we got a chance to visit. This place is absolutely amazing and so much fun for both kiddos and parents! Since we stayed at a nearby hotel, we walked about a block to the museum but there is plenty of parking available behind the building but I am not sure about the cost. We arrived just as they opened and the staff member that assisted us was super sweet and because it was my son's birthday, she gifted him with free admission which was a huge win for our budget. As soon as walked into the actual museum, the first thing my kiddos saw was the water area which of course the only thing they wanted to play with. The water area is setup in a way that kids can play with toys, learn about water conservation, build bridges, and have a wonderful time prior to getting into the nitty gritty of all the museum has to offer. They have aprons so my kiddos weren't drenched but just know that area gets a bit congested. There are sooooo many things to do from art to a robot car build and challenge to playing musical instruments. There is also a fun little outdoor space with a cool play area, fun artwork, and games. We had sooooo much fun and it is truly a wonderful place to try and learn new things. There is also an area for the tinier ones where they can "ride a tractor", take care of bunnies (stuffed of course), set the dinner table, cook, and do other household chores. I mean there is soooooo much to do and so much fun to be had. I cannot recommend this place enough and I promise by the time your leave, the kiddos will definitely have a blast as will you!

    Photos
    Creative Discovery Museum - Painting in Art Studio

    Painting in Art Studio

    Creative Discovery Museum - Make It gallery

    Make It gallery

    Creative Discovery Museum

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    Howard Finster's Paradise Garden

    Howard Finster's Paradise Garden

    4.7(15 reviews)
    24.8 mi

    The Reverend Howard Finster Man of God and Man of Vision. In painting bicycles I'm sure as part of…read morea ministry, he saw a face in paint on his fingertip and it was a sign from God that forever changed his earthly path! I had the pleasure of visiting Paradise Gardens when The Reverend was still alive and even got to sign his casket he hand painted which was on display at the time for all to see. An "outsider artist" not to be confused with folk artists he is completely untrained. Yes his REM album cover shot him to a lot of fame and he did another album cover maybe the B 52s? I believe it was an Athens GA based band. And his famous coca cola art and has others have referenced he has a permanent display at the High Museum in ATL. So not too shabby! The gardens are stunning in their down to home feel and do with what you have mentality which strikes a very stark contrast with his signage all done in capital print about how specifically stole what piece of art or to look out for (insert children's names) who will copy his art and claim it at their own. This place is a must see. I didn't have the pleasure of actually meeting Howard. The time there was wonderful and his home (not open to the public at that time) was humble. I bought a piece of his art which I still treasure and delight in his simplified messages of good and evil in his outsider art. God put it on his heart to do a certain number of pieces before dying and I think he suppasssed the number producing something like 20+ thousand works. All signed and with his personal icon of a dove with a branch in it's mouth. I saw a YouTube of him dancing and singing on a late night show in the 80s or 90s. Howard was full of life, full of the Lord and full of himself. A larger than life figure. I'll upload photos soon Rest in peace and rise in glory Sir, I'm certain you are dancing with Jesus and making God so proud you honored Him and definitely spread His kingdom on earth. Thank you for sharing your God given gifts! I

    This is a massive collection of artwork, architecture, sculpture that merges all into the amazing…read moreexperience that is Paradise Garden where you can learn all about the visions of Rev. Howard Finster. My first visit was back when Reverend Finster was still alive and they still had quite a nice selection of his art available for purchase and everything was still in pretty pristine shape. The years have caused some deterioration of Paradise Garden but there are now efforts underway to preserve and maintain this amazing collection. This is one of the most fun and quirky displays of American folk art you can experience anywhere. Even if you think you've never heard of Rev. Finster you probably know some of his art so prepare yourself for surprise and amusement. My video review of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden is here: https://youtu.be/1DMCR5jk12Y

    Photos
    Howard Finster's Paradise Garden - If the shoe fits I bought at paradise gardens in the early 90s maybe late 80s

    If the shoe fits I bought at paradise gardens in the early 90s maybe late 80s

    Howard Finster's Paradise Garden
    Howard Finster's Paradise Garden - This must be the place

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    This must be the place

    Walker County Regional Heritage Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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