Chattanoogans have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to preserve Moccasin Bend and allow it to grow into the national park and archaeological preserve long intended by the people of the region and by Congress.
Recently, the state of Tennessee set aside $260 million in American Rescue Plan funds either to relocate the 62-year-old Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute to a new location or to rebuild it on the current site.
Moccasin Bend has been the ancestral home to Native Americans for 12,000 years of continuous human habitation. It is also part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and a designated location along the Underground Railroad National Network of Freedom.
It also played a role in the 1863 Battles for Chattanooga. In 1986, Moccasin Bend received a designation as a National Historic Landmark. In 2003, Congress approved the creation of the Moccasin Bend National Archaeological District as a unit of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park – America’s first such district.
When the Archaeological District was created, the state retained the 86-acre property that houses the hospital. When the hospital outlived its lifespan, that property would become part of the district.
Instead, the State Building Commission and state legislators from Chattanooga - with almost no public input - endorsed new construction, favoring it over relocating the facility elsewhere. But even with a smaller footprint, new construction would disturb land that is sacred to Native Americans. It would also violate a commitment that the state made to the National Park Service, the Tribal Nations with Moccasin Bend ancestry, and all Tennessee residents, who are co-owners of this public land.
The Tennessee Historical Commission quickly stated that it encouraged consultation with its office “to explore alternatives that would avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effect” of rebuilding.
After an uproar from parks and conservation groups, Native American tribes, and many in city government, the Commission agreed to delay their final decision until an archaeological study is completed. A single meeting in Nashville after the decision was announced has been the only opportunity for public input.
I question the thoroughness of a state-sponsored study. I also question the state’s lack of transparency by not seeking input from key stakeholders – including Native Americans. They have already seen the state destroy large swaths of Moccasin Bend in the early 1960s, when construction crews carved off the tip of the Bend to provide dirt fill to widen space for I-24. This without any consideration for the archaeological treasures, sacred relics and, in all likelihood, centuries-old burial grounds, now buried beneath I-24.
Beyond Moccasin Bend’s historic, cultural and archaeological significance, there are other reasons to move the hospital. Some in state government argue that the hospital’s wooded setting is more therapeutic for its 150-plus patients than a more urban environment. But that ignores the fact that thousands of Chattanoogans and visitors would also benefit from that same setting.
The remote setting also reinforces an outdated perception that the mentally ill should be hidden from public view. A more central location would both reduce the stigma of mental illness and put patients closer to other medical and community resources. It would also provide access to public transit, which is currently not an option for staff or visitors.
Yes, it may be less expensive to rebuild on land already owned by the state, but that ignores the potential economic impact from visitors to a fully realized park. Moccasin Bend is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, which attracted nearly 1 million visitors in 2022. These visitors spent more than $63 million in communities near the park and supported 905 jobs in the local area.
And yes, the state did look at more than 40 possible new locations before deciding on rebuilding. But I question whether that decision was for practical and financial reasons, or whether it was due to political pressure from members of the state legislation who didn’t want a mental hospital in their districts.
If you’re in favor of preserving the site for generations to come, please sign the petition at
www.savethebend.com. It calls for a transparent planning process, a thorough and independent archaeological study, stakeholder involvement, and, pending the results of the study, a new location for the mental health facility.
Every voice makes a difference. Please sign the petition today.
Jim Johnson