The Moccasin Bend Fall Lecture Series begins its 19th year Monday, Sept. 16. National Park Partners will honor the memory of the late Rita Vital, who attended all 53 events in the Moccasin Bend Lecture Series history. Founded in 2006 and generously funded since its inception by state representative Greg A. Vital, the series raises awareness for the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District by inviting nationally-known speakers to present on national parks, conservation, Indigenous culture and history and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War.
The Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series also coincides with heightened attention on the future of the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. This year’s series hosts a Cherokee Nation leader, respected Civil War historian and American Civil War Museum storyteller.
“Our audiences will encounter some of the most fascinating lectures of the year,” said Tricia King Mims, executive director of National Park Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Moccasin Bend, the regional nonprofit that champions the conservation of the natural, historic and cultural resources of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.
All events, free and open to the public, begin at 7 p.m. at Tennessee Aquarium facilities and registration is required. More information and registration links can be found here.
On Monday, Sept. 16, Dr. Timothy Smith, a history professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, speaks on preserving Tennessee Civil War stories and battlefields. His talk – From Shiloh to Fort Pillow: Preserving Tennessee’s Civil War History – will be informed by his extensive and award-winning career as an author, editor and co-editor. The UTC Department of History is a partner of Dr. Smith’s lecture. Dr., Smith’s trilogy on the Tennessee River campaign won nine book awards; he recently completed a five-volume study of the Vicksburg Campaign. His lecture will be held in the TN River Journey Auditorium. Register here.
On Monday, Oct. 14, Jay Hannah of the Cherokee Nation will deliver the keynote address for the annual Trail of Tears Association Conference and Symposium held in Chattanooga. Through a partnership with the National Trail of Tears Association, the event will be highly publicized and attended. Mr. Hannah is the head of financial services for BancFirst, Oklahoma’s largest state-chartered bank, with over $10 billion in assets. Mr. Hannah, a community banker for over 40 years, holds multiple degrees, including an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Business from Oklahoma City University. His lecture will be held in the TN Aquarium IMAX Theater. Register here.
On Monday, Nov. 4, Kelly Hancock, director of programs at the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Va., will offer a warm-hearted lecture on Victorian Christmas Traditions. As a longtime museum professional and educator, Ms. Hancock knows the power of good storytelling. She’ll delight our crowd with Civil War Christmas stories while connecting many of our current holiday traditions with their past origins. Her lecture will be held in the TN Aquarium River Journey Auditorium. Register here.
In 2023, approximately 300 million Americans visited national parks, including more than 10 million visitors in Tennessee who spent approximately $1.4 billion and helped generate more than 20,000 Tennessee jobs and $2.2 billion in economic benefit. Locally, the economic impact of visitation to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park totaled around $87.5 million last year, an increase from $81 million in 2022, according to the National Park Service.
To learn more, listen to the latest Scenic Roots episode as WUTC’s Ray Bassett interviews Tricia King Mims on National Park Partners and the future of Chattanooga’s national park legacy.
“We are honored by these speakers and their depth of intelligence, wisdom, humor and passion,” said Ms. Mims. “These are days of great importance, as Chattanoogans have the opportunity to engage with brilliant lecturers while also helping preserve some of our most precious places.”