Hamilton County last Wednesday announced the launch of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County History Experience, a new immersive initiative designed to serve as a living Archive that brings the community’s story to life through original films, interactive exhibits, and student-driven Storytelling. Located at the corner of Broad Street and 3rd Street in downtown Chattanooga, the experience is slated to open this summer as the community celebrates America250.
“This isn’t about creating another building filled with artifacts,” said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. “The Chattanooga-Hamilton County History Experience is about strengthening our sense of identity by giving young people a front-row seat to our past, present, and future. Only when we tell our county’s history do students have the opportunity to find their place in our community–gaining skills, confidence, and a stake in carrying our story forward.”
Education and workforce development are central to the initiative. Through a partnership with Dynamo Studios, Hamilton County public school students will work alongside professional filmmakers to research, produce, and present original short films highlighting defining moments in local history, gaining hands-on experience and exposure to emerging creative career pathways.
The project will have several volunteer advisors. The three advisors who spoke during the presentation were Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Historian; John L. Edwards, local historian and owner of the Chattanooga News Chronicle; and Tom Griscom, former White House Communications Director and Editor and Publisher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press who will work alongside the production team to help steward the initiative’s historical and civic perspective.
“For too long, parts of our community’s story have gone untold or unheard,” said Edwards. “This effort creates space for a fuller, more honest telling of who we are, while inviting young people from all neighborhoods of Hamilton County to take ownership of that story. When students help tell our history, it becomes something more meaningful.”
The initiative will launch using a flexible, lower-cost pop-up model that allows the County to gauge public interest, collect visitor feedback, and refine the experience before expanding.
“This project reflects a thoughtful and responsible approach to preserving our history as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday all year long,” said Moss Mines. “By combining professional scholarship with student involvement and modern storytelling, the History Experience ensures our community’s story is told accurately, meaningfully, and in a way that resonates with both today’s audiences and future generations.”
“Every community has a unique story to tell, and modern, film-driven storytelling allows Chattanooga to present ours in a way that feels alive to every generation,” said Griscom. “By giving young people a central role in exploring and sharing our history, this initiative helps them develop a sense of identity, ignite curiosity, and foster connections within their community–ensuring our story is passed on to future generations with pride.”
Funding for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County History Experience will come from hotel-motel tax revenues, leveraging tourism dollars through a unified city-county effort to honor the region’s heritage while investing in its future–without impacting property taxpayers.