The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
and Karen Duquette's sister, Ilse Blahak in Chattanooga, TN
July 19 - 21, 2014
(photos by Karen, Lee, and Ilse)

Below: Downtown Chattanooga Tennessee and a walk-over bridge in front of the Aquarium.

Below: A rock climbing wall on the side of a building near the Tennessee Aquarium.

Ross Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the site of the original settlement of Chattanooga and is considered to be the embarkation point of the Cherokee removal on the Trail of Tears. Ross Landing Riverfront Park memorializes the location, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It was named for John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. In 1816 Ross settled at the site along the Tennessee River above Chattanooga Creek and established Ross Landing as a trading post.

In 1837 Cherokee removal to Indian Territory began and became known as the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee were driven from their homes in several southeastern states and were relocated at various camps, including east of Ross Landing, for expulsion to Oklahoma. The name "Ross Landing" was changed to Chattanooga by American settlers who took over the land after Removal in 1838.

A pedestrian path connects Ross Landing Riverfront Park to the Tennessee Aquarium. A wall along the walkway contains an art installation that symbolizes the path that Cherokees followed on their forced relocation to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Created by Gadugi, a group of five Cherokee artists from Oklahoma, the installation features seven large carved and glazed clay medallions set into the walkway wall. The medallions represent different aspects of Cherokee history, religious beliefs, and struggles with white settlers.

Ross Landing and the Tennessee River as viewed from the top of the stairs.

Below: Views of the Tennessee River from Ross Landing

Below: Time to descend the stairs - and a sign on the wall

STICKBALL, also known as "Little Brother to War," is an ancient game played by native nations throughout eastern North America. Playing fields often covered several miles and participants were occasionally killed or severely injured. Cherokee stickball was used to settle disputes between towns and other tribes. Long ago the Cherokee obtained land in present day Georgia when they defeated the Creeks in a monumental Stickball Game. Stickball is still a part of religious ceremonies and used to settle certain issues. It is an honor to play the game and survive!

SEVEN SISTERS (as mentioned in the above photo). Legend says Cherokees came from the area of the Pleiades Constellation or the Seven Sisters. Star Woman did not like the way the brown skinned people were being treated, so she brought them to Earth. She fell from the sky and broke open and man stepped forth. Her other sisters were mad because they considered these people their slaves. When she returned, they hid her behind a veil so on one could see her clearly. To this day you can only see her through a telescope, thus her Cherokee name U-LI-SI-GI the "Dark One".

Below: Lee and Karen Duquette and Ilse Blahak started down the stairs

Below: After descending a lot of stairs, Ilse, Lee and Karen took a brief walk along the Riverwalk to view the Tennessee River.
Karen Duquette was always lagging behind and taking photographs.

The fountain at Ross Landing.

Below: The pool of water and the stairs with the cascading water at Ross Landing. Great reflections on the ceiling.

Below: A close up view of the stairs with water flowing down them.

Below: A few photos of the art designs on the staircase wall.

Karen Duquette enjoyed walking in the water and then up the steps that had cool water cascading downwards at Ross Landing at Riverfront Park. Lee and Ilse walked up the adjoining dry set of stairs.

Below: Karen Duquette took a few photos from the top of the stairs, looking down the cascading steps of water.

Below: The source of the cascading water.

Below: The Market Street Bridge, officially referred to as the John Ross Bridge, is a bascule bridge that spans the Tennessee River between downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the North shore District. It was named in honor of Cherokee Chief John Ross. The bridge was completed in 1917 at a cost of $1 million. The two RV Gypsies walked on the Market Street Bridge for a view of The Tennessee River and the water cascading down the steps.

Below: Looking over the side of the bridge, Karen Duquette photographed a person on a stand-up board paddles under the water fountain.

Public Art in Chattanooga

Lee Duquette and Ilse Blahak on the
Ruth S. and A. William Holberg Pedestrian Bridge

The two RV Gypsies
on the pedestrian bridge.

Both outside edges of this bridge is a see-through glass-bottom, so of course Karen Duquette took photos looking straight down through the glass on the bridge. Ilse Blahak would not walk on that part and scurried across the bridge by walking on the solid part of the bridge.

Cars passed under the bridge as the two RV Gypsies walked across it.

Below: Perched on an 80-foot bluff on the edge of the Tennessee River, the Hunter Museum of American Art offers stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains. This panorama is equaled only by the exceptional collection of American art inside which is recognized as one of the country's finest.

Bronze statues of ball players, titled "Full Count"

Below: Lee Duquette got in on the baseball action.

A great zig-zagging staircase which reminded the two RV Gypsies of the street in San Francisco.

Below: Lunch time at a nearby park - Ilse and Karen took a picture of each other, while Lee Duquette prepared the lunch.

Menu for the two RV Gypsies Adventures
in Chattanooga, Tennessee - July 19-21, 2014
You may visit these eight (8) sites in any order you choose.
The page you are on is grayed out and cannot be chosen.

Chattanooga, Ross Landing, water steps. sculptures and more (this page)

Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Incline Railway

Rock City

Ruby Falls - a waterfall in a cave

Point Park

A duck ride on the Tennessee River

Lookout Mountain Chattanooga West KOA in Trenton, Georgia

There are also two additional travel choices below:

AFTER you have enjoyed all eight (8) sections, above, please continue on to the adventures of the two RV Gypsies in Alabama: the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, botanical gardens and more

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)