To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the land donations that created Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, National Park Partners is inviting the public to a series of events on Monday, October 14, at the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza.
2:00 - 6:00 pm - Community Celebration
The National Park Service will offer a self-paced Junior Ranger activity, and National Park Service rangers will provide special programs at both The Passage and at the Ross’s Landing interpretive sign (located between the Aquarium River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings). Each program will be offered twice, at 2:30 pm and at 3:30 pm, so guests may take in one program at 2:30 and the other program at 3:30. Staff will also be outside the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, where veterans can receive a free American the Beautiful Lifetime Military Pass. (The following forms of ID are needed to receive a pass: 1. Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement) 2. Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) 3. Veteran ID Card 4. Veterans' designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card.)
The Chattanooga Public Library will share resources for exploring Cherokee history and genealogy, offer crafts and activities for kids, and provide information about their current exhibit, "Records of Removal: The Trail of Tears Ration Books."
Eastern National/America's National Parks will have a pop-up bookstore featuring books and commemorative items related to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park; Moccasin Bend National Archeological District; and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
The City of Chattanooga's Department of Parks and Outdoors will host a table featuring the Chattanooga National Park City campaign, and are providing coordination with food trucks on Chestnut Street.
The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center will host a table sharing information about American Indian recipients of the Medal of Honor as well as the ongoing education programs conducted at the Center throughout the year.
Live music will be provided by Laura Walker from the New Dismembered Tennesseans playing the bass fiddle; Ely Beard on the guitar; Owen Saunders on the fiddle; and Seth Hutcheson on banjo.
4:30-5:30 pm - Commemorative Program
NPP welcomes the public to a special commemorative program, honoring the historic partnership between the former Friends of Moccasin Bend (now National Park Partners), the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the State of Tennessee, the National Park Service, and many American Indian Tribes that resulted in the creation of the only National Archeological District in the country in 2004. NPP will recognize the efforts of many in the community, over the course of nearly a century, for their dedication to preserving Moccasin Bend. The program also serves to kickoff the 27th annual National Trail of Tears Association Conference and Symposium, beginning in Chattanooga that day.
Confirmed speakers include:
Tricia King Mims - executive director of National Park Partners
Brad Bennett - Superintendent, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Former City of Chattanooga Councilman and Mayor, Ron Littlefield; joined by former Chief of Staff to Mayors Claude Ramsey and Jim Coppinger, Jeannine Alday - representing the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County leadership at the time of the land donations to the National Park Service in 2004.
Congressman Zach Wamp - Wrote and passed the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District Act in 2003 while in Congress, authorizing the acceptance of land donations in 2004
Jack Baker - leader of the National Trail of Tears Association in 2004
Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. of the Cherokee Nation
Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians
Scott Martin - Administrator, Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors (representing Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly's office)
Matt Folz, Director, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation (representing County Mayor Weston Wamp’s office)
Erika Roberts - Principal Creative Director of Velvet Poetry will read her work titled Abundance, inspired by visits to Moccasin Bend
7:00 - 8:00 pm - Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. of the Cherokee Nation will speak at the Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series, open to the public at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater. His talk serves as the keynote address for the National Trail of Tears Association Conference & Symposium. Seating is limited and advance registration is required.