Snow has long been part of Scenic City’s story, shaping daily life in ways both challenging and memorable. While the Blizzard of 1993 remains the city’s most intense winter event with nearly 20 inches of snow, earlier decades saw their own remarkable storms. Each snowfall transformed the streets, schools, and changed routines. These winters slowed transportation, closed businesses, and turned familiar landmarks into scenes rarely seen in the Tennessee Valley.

Beyond snowfall totals, winter life in the 1900s revealed the resilience and creativity of Chattanoogans. In 1905, Point Park on Lookout Mountain stood blanketed in snow the same year it was built, its castle-like entrance welcoming visitors despite harsh conditions. By 1918, snow removal meant dumping piles into manholes along Broad Street, a method that depended heavily on flowing water. Lastly, the Public Works crews washed snow from the Walnut Street Bridge, while students at Chattanooga High School watched their campus disappear under white blankets, all of which happened in the 60s.

Even with limited equipment, winter brought moments of joy, from neighborhood sledding to shared community experiences that remain frozen in time through historic photographs.

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