This city began as a trading post in 1815 and has retained its commercial emphasis by evolving into a factory outlet center. The Hunter Museum of Art houses an excellent permanent art collection as well as traveling exhibitions. The city is also notable for the Tennessee Aquarium, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of freshwater marine life. A US$129 million expansion project for Chattanooga, completed in May 2005, encompasses the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Aquarium and the Hunter Museum of Art. It improves the current facilities of Ross Landing, including a renovated marina and a brand new public pier and riverfront park.
Chattanooga contains another record-holding installation – the world’s steepest passenger railway, the Incline, which propels its passengers up a stomach-churning gradient of 72.7°. The journey is worthwhile, especially on a clear day, when the territories of seven States are visible from Lookout Mountain. Here, at Rock City Gardens, subterranean black-lit gnome dioramas and Mother Goose theme areas are constructed around several interesting rock formations. Ruby Falls, a spectacular 44m- (145ft-) high underground waterfall flows 341m (1120ft) below the surface of Lookout Mountain.