“We know that Chattanooga was prone to flooding before the construction of the dams on the Tennessee River, but did you know that one key flood showcased that vulnerability as the nation was a mere month away from declaring war on Germany, kicking off American involvement in World War 1.
On March the 7th, 1917, a low pressure system moved across the eastern US, bringing with it torrential rain. As the rain fell, the Tennessee River began to rise, eventually cresting at almost 48 feet above flood stage.
The Chattanooga Library’s Digital photo collection archives the aftermath of the flood…