Chattanooga, Tennessee

1863 Battles of Chattanooga: Union forces under Grant broke the Confederate siege in the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, opening the path to Atlanta and splitting the Confederacy.

1969 Dirtiest City in America: The federal government declared Chattanooga had the worst air quality in the nation, shaming the city into dramatic environmental reforms.

1992 Tennessee Aquarium Opens: The world's largest freshwater aquarium opened on the riverfront, anchoring downtown's transformation from industrial wasteland.

2010 Gig City — Fastest Internet: EPB launched a citywide 1-gigabit fiber network, making Chattanooga the first U.S. city with gigabit internet and earning it the nickname 'Gig City.'.

2015 Volkswagen Plant: VW's Chattanooga assembly plant became a major employer, producing Passat and Atlas vehicles.