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The stunning architecture of the Chattanooga Train Terminal (saved from the wrecking ball and converted into a hotel)

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Railroad Photos65 of 181Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4850Beaver Creek, Minnesota  Railroad depot clock with history
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    Posted 8 years ago

    rniederman
    (346 items)

    For many years when my wife and I drove to Florida, our preferred route took us through the charming town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of the nice things about driving, as opposed to other forms of transportation, is that you discover lots of interesting sights and history that are otherwise missed. Of course, we always stopped into antique shops along the way. (As always, I searched for early American wood and brass cameras.)

    When driving through Chattanooga for the first time, we became curious about an architecturally and historically interesting railway terminal station. We learned it was purchased by a private group in 1973 and in the process of being converted into a hotel, which is now known as the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. The plan was to also include original Pullman sleeping cars transformed into hotel rooms!

    It was fortunate that the terminal station was saved from the wrecking ball. The interior is a magnificent architectural wonder and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This past year we finally stayed at the hotel for an evening but unfortunately all the sleeper cars were already reserved.

    The first two pictures show the spectacular hotel lobby. The third picture looks up at the eye-catching dome held aloft by a superstructure of huge steel girders. The Glenn Miller Gardens, Choo Choo engine and some Pullman cars can be seen in the fourth picture.

    A plaque in front of a train engine on the property tells the story of the railway:

    “It was on March 5, 1880, that the first passenger train leaving Cincinnati for Chattanooga was nicknamed the “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”. This historical occasion opened the first major link in public transportation from the North to the South. The “Choo-Choo” was operated by the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, America’s first municipal railway system.”

    According to the hotel’s website, “a newspaper reporter dubbed the huffing and puffing little steam locomotive the Chattanooga Choo Choo.” And yes, this was the inspiration for Glenn Miller’s “The Chattanooga Choo Choo” song.

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    Comments

    1. SEAN68 SEAN68, 8 years ago
      stunning hotel!!!
    2. Windwalker, 8 years ago
      Nice write up as well as Pictures...
    3. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!
    4. Caperkid, 8 years ago
      Amazing design !
    5. fortapache fortapache, 8 years ago
      Very glad it was preserved.
    6. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Windwalker
      Thomas
    7. walksoftly walksoftly, 8 years ago
      Great photo's...love the architecture of old railway stations!
    8. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      blunderbuss2
      SpiritBear
      Windwalker
    9. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Leah
      vetraio50
    10. eye4beauty eye4beauty, 8 years ago
      Very, very cool !
    11. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Michael
      EJW-54
    12. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Caperkid!
    13. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, fortapache!
    14. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Stunningly beautiful! I want to go THERE!
    15. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, eye and David!
    16. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, antiquerose!
    17. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      martika
      iggy
    18. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, racer4four!
    19. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Manikin
      ho2cultchah
    20. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Lisa!
    21. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks again, Manikin!
    22. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Nicefice!
    23. Trey Trey, 8 years ago
      Beautiful architecture :)
    24. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Trey!
    25. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, pops52!
    26. rniederman rniederman, 3 years ago
      Thanks!
      Rocky22222
      aura
      getthatmonkeyoutofme
      Cisum

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