North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park
Sept. 10, 2024 by Steve Smith
The first week of September has brought a much anticipated announcement from the State of Tennessee regarding the formation of its 59th State Park. The 6,000 acre tract has been set aside for its recreational beauty, great hiking trails, and fantastic swimming holes, top notched kayaking (when weather permits), bouldering and rock climbing in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge. In time, there will be an asphalted parking lot, bathrooms and park ranger presence. A visitor is encouraged to visit either in the morning or on the weekdays, when, they hope, it will not be as crowded as they think it will be on the weekends.
Watch video TNSTATEPARKS.com 
Grant monies awarded
June 7, 2024 by Steve Smith
(Left to right) SDMHA President Steve Smith, TN State Library Representative Ashley Howell, TN State Representative Patsy Hazelwood, TN State Senator Bo Watson, and Ryan Jenkins all met at the museum for a tour and formal check presentation of $38,140. SDMHA's awarded portion of a $5 Million dollar grant to help smaller museums across Tennessee with much needed repairs to their facilities.
Donation received
June 3, 2024 by Steve Smith
Hamilton County District 1 Commissioner Gene-O Shipley presents a $1,000 donation to Steve Smith.
This was much appreciated support for area non-profits like SDMHA.
Improvements at the Museum
May 1st, 2024 by Steve Smith
The Historical Association has just completed major work at the old Soddy Bank building. We had applied for a grant with the State of Tennessee Museum in Nashville last October, and we were awarded most of the money we applied for.
Two of the most important items we wanted this money for was to replace the old heating/cooling system and also to put a new roof on the 103-year-old bank building. So, we were given over $38,000 for these improvements and Monday or Tuesday these two changes will have been completed. We are waiting on Action Air to run the gas line from the heat pump to the new natural gas meter which was just installed on Thursday.
The old roof was taken off to show major water damage from leaking for the last 21 years since the last rubber roof work was installed. This work included the replacement of 17 rotted roof rafters, 22 pieces of 3/4" plywood and 42 pieces of 7/16" plywood, new two-inch insulation, and last a new rubber roof. All of these unknown but necessary roof repairs added almost $6,000 to the estimate to complete the work, but we had asked for more money, just for the possibility of this happening. After everything was completed, it appears we will owe about $1, 400 over the amount we received from the grant. This is not bad considering the scope of the work on the roof and a new heating/cooling system.
