Explore Chattanooga Summer 2024

Spotlight | WHAT TO SEE

THE COOLIDGE NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HERITAGE CENTER

BIRTHPLACE OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR

T he Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center opened in 2020 and is situated in the heart of the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor — Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 19,000 square-foot facility features life-sized, state-of-the-art exhibits that offer an immersive experience placing visitors in the boots of Medal of Honor recipients and bringing their heroic stories to life. So how did Chattanooga become known as the “Birthplace of the Medal of Honor”? The very first Medal of Honor was awarded to Private Jacob Parrott on March 25, 1863. He was the first of six men to be honored for their actions as members of Andrews’ Raiders, whose valorous acts on April 12, 1862, became known as “The Great Locomotive Chase”, which ended just south of Chattanooga. The first fifty-two medals were awarded for actions of valor during the American Civil War, all within a 25-mile radius of the center’s downtown location, including one for Dr. Mary Walker, the only female recipient. In total, 3,536 medals have been presented by American presidents and military commanders since 1861. Of these, the thirty-three honorees come from the state of Tennessee, including two Signal Mountain natives. Charles H. Coolidge, for whom the new National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is named, and Larry Taylor, the most recent recipient. Over fourteen permanent exhibits take visitors from the actions that prompted the first medals of the Civil War to the War on Terror conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. A special focus of these exhibits is placed on those heroes accredited to Tennessee. The center is also home to the Space Medal of Honor awarded to Commander Dick Scobee, astronaut and commander of the Challenger Space Shuttle. The medal was presented by the Scobee family to the Heritage Center

in 2022 and is the inspiration for a future interactive exhibit called “The

Journey Ahead.” The educational exhibit and programs will honor the inspiring life of Dick Scobee and his aspirations for the future of space exploration. The complete story of the Medal of Honor, its history, its significance and meaning, as well as lessons about the character traits embodied by the Medal of Honor and its recipients, are told through the first-class exhibits at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. The self-guided tour may take an hour to an hour-and-a-half with

helpful and very knowledgeable docents available to get the tour started and answer any questions along the way. If visitors have any interest in history or the military, or if a family member served in the Armed Forces, they will not want to miss this award-winning and impressive attraction. Located at 2 Aquarium Way on the plaza next to the Tennessee Aquarium. For hours and ticketing information visit: www.mohhc.org.

Summer 2024