OffBeat Tennessee

  • Home
  • Curious Facts
  • Places
  • History
Home What is the huge Cross on the mountain outside Chattanooga for and why was it was erected?

What is the huge Cross on the mountain outside Chattanooga for and why was it was erected?

If you didn’t go to Sewanee, The University of the South or know someone who did you probably wonder why there is an enormous cross on the top of a mountain when driving by on I-24.

sewaneeMemorialCross1000w

The 60-foot-tall Memorial Cross is on the campus of University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The memorial was erected in 1922 to honor students who served in the armed forces. Sitting on the Cumberland plateau overlooking the Franklin County valley, the cross is bathed in light at night and can be seen for miles away.

The cross has been fenced off recently due to some vandalism and graffiti appearing on the lower half of the cross

I hear it is a great place to work on photography, get engaged or a really cool place to catch a sunset.

The Memorial

Here are the plaques on the Memorial Cross

sewaneeMemorialCross_plaque_WWI

WWI
To the sons of Sewanee who answered their country’s call to service in the World War 1917-1918

WWII
To those from the university, the military academy, Sewanee, and all Franklin County in World War II 1941-1945

The Korean War
To the students and citizens of sewanee and to the citizens of Franklin County who served this country in the Korean War 1950-1953

Vietnam War

To the men and women of the university of Sewanee and of Franklin County who answered their call to serve in the Vietnam War 1965-1972

Desert Storm
To the men and women of the University, of Sewanee, and of Franklin County who served in Desert Storm 1991

The University of the South

If visiting the cross also check out the campus of Sewanne, it is a beautiful campus and makes you feel as if you are at Hogwarts, especially with the robe wearing students

sewanee Feb 08 004

And lastly The Memorial Cross view from a younger fellows perspective

May 30, 2014Off Beat

GET MORE STUFF LIKE THIS IN YOUR INBOX! Sign up for our daily email and get the stories everyone is talking about.

One of the largest and most significant folk art sites in the US is just off the road outside of PalmyraRusty's Movie Car Museum - includes cars from Fast and Furious and Breaking Bad
More offbeat stories
Sign up to get the latest Offbeat updates daily
Archives
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
Sign up to get Daily updates in your Inbox of stories everyone is talking about



Categories
  • Curious Facts
  • History
  • Places
  • Uncategorized
For story suggestions or to submit a story email us at offbeatten@gmail.com. Also email us if you have anything else you would like to share, we want to hear the offbeat and interesting side of Tennessee
Pages
  • blog
  • Facts, Stories and Places of Tennessee of a curious nature
Recent Posts
  • A child’s playhouse in a cemetery
  • With football season upon us, one Tennessee fan proved he is a diehard Vol with his wedding
  • World’s Longest Yard Sale – yes Tennessee holds that record too
  • Did a Tennessee woman live to be 150 years old?
  • Tennessee is serious when it comes to our lakes, the story of Reelfoot Lake and the Night Riders
2014 © OffBeat Tennessee