Written by Malcolm Key
Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a city of reinvention. Before this small southern metropolis became the first National Park City in the United States, it was running from its reputation as the dirtiest city in America. Earning this badge of infamy after playing an integral role in the Civil War, Chattanooga’s history is an allegory that features as many bends as the Tennessee River it was built around. The reshaping is a story of civic and community ambitions acting as the catalyst for the city’s degradation and its renaissance.
Chattanooga was labeled the “dirtiest city in America” in 1969 by Walter Cronkite, but the history is much more complex. During the Civil War, the city was a pivotal part of Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan. A Union strategy created to defeat the Confederacy by blocking southern ports and capturing the Mississippi River. It was essential to the Union’s victory to take Chattanooga, “because it was the apex of the Tennessee River, which connects with the Mississippi,” said Linda Moss Mines, official Chattanooga and Hamilton County historian.
This apex propelled the city into becoming the gateway to the South, which transformed Chattanooga into a growing, diverse community, creating a hub for industrial advancement. This booming industry prompted the city to be nicknamed the Dynamo of the Dixie, but it was also this ambition that led to the notorious title.
At times, a smog blanketed the city, smothering dreams of the future. Mines reflects on her view of the city on Signal Mountain when she drove to work:
“At the top of the Signal [Mountain], you [looked] down, and you could not see the city. It was incredible. It looked like a perpetual fog” said Mines. The title of the dirtiest city will always be etched into Chattanooga’s history, but the community members of that day resisted that distinction and chose to redefine their future.
In order to move forward, Chattanooga had to look back. Before its industrialization, the city was studying plans by landscape architect John Nolen to improve the park system from within. This, in combination with philanthropy and community direction, led to the creation of Chattanooga Venture’s Vision 2000; a plan that would redefine the city forever, leading to the creation of the Tennessee Aquarium, Ross’ Landing, the Riverwalk, and the Walnut Street Bridge. Vision 2000 ushered in a new era for Chattanooga, an era of transformation.
The story of this southern metropolis’ transformation is one of recognizing what held Chattanooga back, propelling it toward becoming a greener, cleaner, and healthier city. From the dirtiest city in America in 1969, to Vision 2000 in the 90s, to now, the first National Park City, Chattanooga’s story is one of constant reinvention.
Meet the Storytellers
Malcolm Key is a senior Communication major with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Key is a previous Division 1 NCAA athlete turned multimedia artist, graphic designer, and visual storyteller. He is passionate about sharing truths of the human experience using digital communication and its various forms. He is currently serving as Broadcast Assistant for WUTC public radio, where he connects written, video, and photojournalism skills with audio journalism and production. Key’s keen interest lies in connecting with the arts, music, global culture, urban development, and infrastructure. Key uses photography to highlight the overlooked and shine light on the forgotten. If you want him to shine light on your story or collaborate on a project, contact him at tfc775@mocs.utc.edu. For his graphic works, click here.
Clara Paulson is a Junior Communication major attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with minors in Brock Scholars and Creative Writing. Paulson is a writer and photographer who aims to capture the charm of Chattanooga’s culture. She has experience as an assistant university photographer, photo editor for the University Echo, and published author in the Sequoya Review. When she’s not behind a camera, you’ll find her hiking, paddleboarding, and rafting the Ocoee. After graduation, her goal is to continue writing—whether it’s with ink or light—the unheard stories of Chattanooga and beyond. If you want her to tell your story, you can reach out to her at tnq894@mocs.utc.edu.