If you're ready for a break from turkey and shopping we've got just the thing.
This weekend marks the 149th anniversary of the Civil War battles of Chattanooga.
The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park kicked off three days of hands on history lessons with a look at the often overlooked Battle of Orchard Knob.
From Lookout Mountain to Tunnel Hill, the Chattanooga area is steeped in Civil War History.
It draws tourists like Jerry Nichols back year after year.
Jerry Nichols, "I wanted to see this place. I never had gotten to here and I've been doing this Civil War stuff for 20 years."
He's not the only one that's overlooked a significant battle that happened right here in our back yard ...the Battle of Orchard Knob.
Chris Young, Park Ranger, "This is a very important piece of history as far as bringing a close to the siege and battles for Chattanooga."
Park Ranger Chris Young led around three dozen people up the hill to see the site first-hand at the exact time of the battle on this day 149 years ago.
It pit 634 Confederate soldiers against 14,000 from the Union determined to hold on to Chattanooga....the gateway to the deep South.
Young, "Railroads intersected in the City. The river flows through the City. So much so than in October of 1863 Abraham Lincoln says taking Chattanooga is just as important as taking richmond."
The Union soldiers pushed the confederates back here...moving closer to Missionary Ridge.
This presentation at the Orchard Knob reservation is one of several planned by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park this weekend highlighting important Civil War Battles of Chattanooga.
Nichols, "It's a very nice place. I'm glad we preserve places like this."
Making history come alive for all ages.
Click here for more on this weekend's Civil War events.
