The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center

Chattanooga's important heritage as the birthplace of the Medal of Honor is unmistakable in the storytelling of the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Located in downtown Chattanooga, the Heritage Center serves as an interactive connection to the Medal of Honor, from its origins in the Civil War to the present day. Visitors are guided through history by the stories of ordinary people who demonstrated acts of extraordinary heroism and are reminded that they, too, can embody the six character traits all Medal of Honor recipients share — Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice and Commitment.

Officially opened in February 2020, the Heritage Center’s exhibits highlight major conflicts and the inspiring stories they hold. In the museum’s center is the “Heart of Valor,” a life-size representation of Arthur MacArthur, father of fellow Medal of Honor recipient Gen. Douglas MacArthur and a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at Missionary Ridge, located just miles from the Center.

The main gallery of permanent exhibits includes Andrews’ Raiders and the Great Locomotive Chase, the daring escapade that led to Jacob Parrott receiving the first Medal of Honor. Visitors are then taken to meet Mary Walker, the only female Medal of Honor recipient to date. She served as a field surgeon near the front lines of multiple battles, often crossing battle lines to help civilians until her capture as a prisoner of war in 1864.

The visitor’s journey into the past continues through the Indian Wars and wars in the Pacific. These exhibits feature recipients such as George Jordan, a former slave from Williamson County, Tennessee, turned Buffalo Soldier, and Desmond Doss, the conscientious objector at Hacksaw Ridge in World War II responsible for rescuing 75 men. Hands-on activities help put the experiences of these recipients into perspective.

The Coolidge Theater tells the story of the Heritage Center’s namesake, Charles H. Coolidge. Visitors are placed in the middle of the action as he dodges tank fire in the forests of France during World War II, in an immersive look into the bravery exhibited by the local hero. It’s his story, and those of so many like him, that build the incredible legacy of the Medal of Honor.