"Timeless Blue Ridge Mountains...poignant remains of the Cherokee Indian culture…haunting battlefields and burial grounds of the Blue and Gray...a fascinating industrial heritage…acres of great golf...miles of hiking trails...and yards and yards of carpet at huge savings...just what you'd expect in the Carpet Capital of the World. Visit Dalton and discover the rich tapestry of past and present we proudly claim as our own. Discover the rich colors and textures that were part of Northwest Georgia before carpet put us on the map."
While carpet plays an important role in our daily lives, the city of Dalton is so much more than "just carpet." From downtown to the nearby mountains, Dalton is just about the prettiest town in the United States. Quiet, peaceful streets, pleasant folks, and just a touch of southern drawl when we greet you with "How y'all doin'?"
Dalton has more than just friendly folks, it's also a fun vacation capitol for the whole family. Right in the city we have a vibrant and growing downtown area, beautifully restored antebellum homes and some of the best private archives in the state. For family fun there is Prater's Mill and the twice a year Craft Fair they hold in May and October. And shopping? Of course we have shopping--everything from quaint antique stores to our very own Tanger Outlet Center.
Nearby are Civil War sites that include the battle Rocky Face, which is the collective name for the Battle of Mill Creek Gap just west of the city and the Battle of Dug Gap a little further south. If you're a Yankee you might call it the Battle of Dalton. In the city, Dalton Depot saw Confederates on the way to the battle of Chickamauga, and men from both sides on the way to area hospitals and cemeteries. In our beautiful downtown area is the only statue of Confederate General and Commander, Army of Tennessee, Joseph E. Johnston. We can even tell you a story or two about The Great Locomotive Chase, which ran right past our front door step.
Up until the early part of the 19th century this land was home to The Cherokee. Nearby are monuments to the cultural and social expansion of this Native American tribe. In Chatsworth is Vann House, built early in the 1800's by one of the richest men in the Western Hemisphere at the time, James Vann. South of Dalton is first capital of the Cherokee Nation, New Echota. It was from this "New Town" that Chief John Ross and other members of the Cherokee tribe would fight encroaching settlers not with bows and arrows, but with printed words and courts, only to lose and be forced west on the Trail of Tears.
Then let us bring you up to modern times with the uplifting story of the creation of the World's Carpet Capital. This story begins with Chenille Alley, that stretched from the Georgia-Tennessee border south for 50 miles. A "cottage industry" becomes a major regional employer and revitalizes a small town.
If you are planning a visit to Georgia's Historic High Country, include Dalton on your itinerary.
