It All Comes Together in Chattanooga

Chattanooga may be best known for its natural beauty, surrounded by mountains, valleys, and the Tennessee River. This charming Appalachian city is also home to annual music festivals like the IBMA World of Bluegrass and the 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival. The streets and venues fill with musicians and fans dedicated to upholding the traditions of bluegrass music. Chattanooga has always been a city of convergence. Long before trains arrived, the river drew people through a narrow passage in the mountains; later came traders, artists, and entrepreneurs. At festival time, bluegrass becomes the city's soundtrack, with impromptu performances and jams ranging all across town. Many of the local hot spots are pressed into service as music venues. The destinations collected here allow for all sorts of gatherings: a railroad terminal built to serve historic crowds, now repurposed; a riverfront freighted with Cherokee history where folks now gather for performances; and even a whiskey company that rallied the community to change state law. Taken as a whole, they reveal a city profoundly shaped around the possibilities of people coming together. Chattanooga Choo Choo — Historic Terminal Station…

≈