1940 Map of Chattanooga

About this map

The Tennessee River creates a dramatic series of loops around Moccasin Bend and Chattanooga Island, forming the geographic heart of this 1940s-era river and rail hub. Before the full modern expansion of the interstate system, the city's growth is defined by its topographical constraints, pinned between the Cumberland Escarpment and the massive bulk of Lookout Mountain. The downtown area is a dense grid of industry and transit, centered on major rail hubs like Union Station and Terminal Station, while the famed Incline Railway ascends the steep slopes to the south.