WCHS students visit Lookout Mountain through grant program

By Steve Hillis

Warren County High School Tennessee history students recently had the opportunity to visit Lookout Mountain and Point Park through a grant provided by the American Battlefield Trust's History Field Trip Grant Program.

The trip allowed my students in grades 10-12 to experience history firsthand, including a visit to the Point Park Museum, where we viewed the famous painting "The Battle of Lookout Mountain," featuring Union Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker. Students also learned about the significance of the battle and the strategies involved.

I love opportunities when I am able to see a battlefield for myself, as it brings a clearer understanding of the strategies involved. Yet seeing the site also brings home the tragedy of war, regardless of the side one may support. I am thankful to give my students those same opportunities.

The trip was made possible through a competitive national grant application process through the American Battlefield Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving historic battlefields and educating the public about their significance.

The American Battlefield Trust is the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the country, having saved more than 60,000 acres of historic land across 25 states. The organization works to preserve these locations so future generations can walk in the footsteps of those who fought there and better understand the events that shaped our nation.

Each year, the Trust accepts applications from classrooms across the country through its History Field Trip Grant Program. The program provides funding and assistance to K-12 teachers planning trips to Civil War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields and related historic sites.

During the 2024-25 school year, more than 12,000 students from 35 states participated in the program.

"How wonderful for these children to get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined," said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. "Battlefields and other historic sites exemplify the 'power of place.' They are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic."

One of my students, Isaiah Gibson, shared his appreciation for the experience.

"American Battlefield Trust, thanks a million for giving us this grant. The field trip was nothing short of amazing and the view was spectacular," Gibson said. "I was more enlightened on the history of Point Park and had no clue it existed. Not only was it interesting but it was definitely an amazing experience. I can't be more grateful for an experience like that."

As a history teacher, I believe there is great value in taking students beyond the classroom and allowing them to visit places where significant events actually occurred. Lookout Mountain provided that opportunity, giving students a better understanding of the history they study and the sacrifices made during the Civil War.

I am grateful to the American Battlefield Trust for making this trip possible and allowing my students to experience an important part of American history firsthand.

For more information about the American Battlefield Trust and its preservation and educational efforts, visit www.battlefields.org.