12 Murals at the Chattanooga Choo Choo
A surprising collection of landscapes, pop-culture characters, portraits and fantasy creatures hidden in plain sight behind Chattanooga’s historic Terminal Station.
Where Can You Find Murals at the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
A collection of 12 murals covers doors and recessed panels along the back brick wall of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo courtyard.
The murals are free to view, grouped together in one easy-to-explore area and take about 15–20 minutes to photograph.
I went to the Chattanooga Choo Choo expecting historic architecture and trains.
I did not expect to find a collection of 12 murals waiting in the courtyard behind the station.
During a trip to Chattanooga, my brother and I stopped to explore the landmark we had both heard about for years.
After walking through the former Terminal Station and venturing into the courtyard, we discovered the murals covering doors and recessed panels along the station’s back brick wall.
What started as an architectural stop quickly became another street-art find.
Where Are the Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals?
The murals are grouped together along the back wall of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo courtyard at 1400 Market Street.
You do not need to stay at The Hotel Chalet or purchase admission to see them.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo campus is open for visitors to explore, including its public art, gardens and historic surroundings.
Because all 12 murals are concentrated in the same courtyard area, this is an easy public-art stop to add while exploring Chattanooga’s Southside.
Why Is the Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic?
The Chattanooga Choo Choo occupies the city’s former Terminal Station, a major passenger railroad hub that opened in 1909.
Construction on Chattanooga’s Terminal Station began in 1906, and the completed station welcomed its first train in 1909.
At its peak, it served nearly 50 trains a day.
The last passenger train departed in 1970.
Rather than being demolished, the station was preserved and reopened to the public as the Chattanooga Choo Choo entertainment complex in 1973.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo remains a historic Chattanooga landmark, so you do not need to stay at the neighboring hotel to explore the station and courtyard.
The station’s architecture was the main reason for our visit.
We also enjoyed seeing the train positioned behind the building and the restored railcars at The Hotel Chalet, some of which can still be booked as hotel accommodations.
The murals were a complete surprise—and a good reminder to keep exploring beyond a destination’s most recognizable feature.
What Do the Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals Look Like?
The collection ranges from Chattanooga landscapes and bold graphic designs to pop-culture characters, portraits and whimsical fantasy creatures.
The murals do not follow one theme or artistic style. That variety is what makes the collection interesting.
Chattanooga Landscape and Guitar Murals
One panel features a turquoise electric guitar painted directly across the texture of the brick.
Nearby, a landscape mural signed by Ragan Smith and Olivia Reckert depicts the Tennessee River, bridges, surrounding hills and Chattanooga’s skyline.
The landscape was my favorite mural in the collection.
It connects the artwork directly to the city and captures several of Chattanooga’s recognizable natural and architectural elements in one scene.
Darth Vader, Deadpool and Platform 9¾
The collection then shifts completely into pop culture.
One doorway features Darth Vader above bold graffiti-style lettering, while another presents a playful version of Deadpool surrounded by arrows and hearts.
A separate black-and-white panel marked “Platform 9¾” brings a little wizarding-world humor to the former train station.
That last mural feels especially suited to the location.
A reference to a fictional railway platform appearing at an actual historic train station is exactly the kind of detail that rewards visitors who take time to look around.
Which Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals Feature Portraits?
Several murals use portraits, fantasy characters and expressive faces rather than Chattanooga landmarks or pop-culture references.
One portrays a woman with bright purple hair, gold hoop earrings and hands reaching upward across the composition.
Another shows a woman surrounded by sweeping strands of hair filled with colorful faces and flowing beards.
The faces-and-beards mural was another favorite because of its movement and whimsy.
Every section seems to lead into another expression, line or unexpected character.
Fantasy Creatures and Whimsical Murals
The remaining murals include fantasy creatures, birds, an imaginative robot and other playful illustrated scenes.
The “Creature of Sugar Flat Road” appears like a vintage sideshow poster, complete with theatrical curtains and a speech bubble declaring the creature “Alive!”
Other panels include an imaginative robot standing within a fantasy landscape, large white birds set against geometric fields of blue and red, and a bird eating noodles with chopsticks.
The final creature mural combines animal forms, curling waves and a limited turquoise-and-red palette against a black background.
Who Painted the Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals?
Some of the murals include visible artist names or social-media handles, but not every artist could be identified confidently from the artwork alone.
Visible credits in the collection include Ragan Smith, Olivia Reckert, @theartistseven and @o.i.dewitt.art.
Other panels contain signatures or identifying marks that were not clear enough for me to credit confidently, so I have left those unattributed rather than guessing.
How Long Do You Need for the Murals?
Allow about 15–20 minutes if you only want to see and photograph the murals.
Because the entire collection is grouped on the back wall of the courtyard, you can move from one panel to the next without driving or walking between separate mural locations.
If you also want to explore the historic station, train, courtyard and neighboring Hotel Chalet area, I would allow about 60–90 minutes for the full stop.
Are the Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals Free?
Yes. The murals can be viewed from the public Chattanooga Choo Choo campus without purchasing admission or staying at the hotel.
The Hotel Chalet currently confirms that visitors can explore the Choo Choo campus, including its gardens, shops, restaurants and public art, for free.
Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals Quick Planning Guide
Parking fees, courtyard access and individual businesses within the complex can change, so check current information before visiting.
What Else Can You See at the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
The murals work especially well as part of a larger visit to the historic station rather than as a standalone stop.
Explore the Terminal Station architecture, see the train behind the building and walk through the courtyard to find the complete mural collection.
You can also look at the restored railcars at The Hotel Chalet.
The hotel still offers restored train-car accommodations, including its Sleeper Deluxe rooms and MacArthur Suite.
Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals FAQ
How many murals are at the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
There are 12 murals grouped together along doors and recessed panels on the courtyard wall behind the historic station.
Do you have to stay at The Hotel Chalet to see the murals?
No. The murals are on the public Chattanooga Choo Choo campus and can be viewed without booking a hotel room.
Does it cost anything to see the murals?
No. Viewing the murals and exploring the public Choo Choo campus is currently free.
How long should you allow for the murals?
About 15–20 minutes is enough to see and photograph the collection. Allow around 60–90 minutes if you also want to explore the station, courtyard and historic train areas.
Can you still stay in a train car at the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
Yes. The Hotel Chalet still offers restored train-car accommodations on the Chattanooga Choo Choo campus.
Are the Chattanooga Choo Choo Murals Worth Seeing?
Yes—especially if you are already visiting the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
I would not plan an entire Chattanooga trip around these 12 murals alone, but they add an easy 15–20 minutes to a historic-station visit and provide a completely different visual side of the property.
What I enjoyed most was the surprise.
We arrived for railroad history and architecture and found pop culture, fantasy creatures, local landscapes and colorful character art waiting behind the station.
If you visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo, walk beyond the main station and into the courtyard.
You may arrive for the trains, but give yourself another 20 minutes for the art waiting behind them.
Planning a longer visit? Use my Chattanooga Weekend Guide to combine this experience with Lookout Mountain attractions, railway history, downtown museums, murals, local food and the Tennessee Riverfront.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.
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