10 local and regional artists transform a beloved piece of Americana into a sightseeing experience across the Chattanooga region.
Nearly a century after SEE ROCK CITY barns captured travelers’ attention, Rock City is inspiring a new journey through 14 artist-created installations across the region. Inspired by the iconic roadside campaign that helped put Rock City and Chattanooga on the map, these large-scale works of art invite locals and visitors to rediscover area attractions through a self-guided regional road trip.
The project was brought to life through creative collaboration. Rather than replicating the famous three words synonymous with the barns, each installation reinterprets the slogan through the lens of its host locations. For example, at Sculpture Fields the piece reads SEE A WORK OF ART. Chattanooga Theatre Center proclaims SEE THEATRE COME ALIVE, and the Tennessee Aquarium displays SEE LIFE UNDERWATER.
Created by a team of carpenters, fabricators and 10 local and regional artists, the installations range from large-scale barn structures and elevated birdhouses to interactive photo ops. Inside Rock City is a signature work by Southern contemporary folk artist Butch Anthony, and 500 mini birdhouses painted by students from Walker County hanging in the Hearth Pavilion. Altogether, these pieces offer a unique sightseeing adventure through the summer, with select installations remaining on view even longer.
“These installations give new life to a beloved piece of Americana, inviting people to experience familiar places through the creativity and imagination of local artists,” said Pepper Raper, Rock City’s publicist and project manager for Barns2Birdhouses. Rock City barn painting started in the 1930s to encourage travelers to visit the off-the-beaten-path attraction. Clark Byers, the original sign painter, was hired by Rock City founder Garnet Carter when he was just 22 years old. Byers spent more than three decades painting around 900 barns across 19 states. Barn painting finally came to an end with the passing of the Highway Beautification Act in 1965, but has been revived through Barns2Birdhouses, as part of Rock City’s celebration of America 250.
To learn more about the barns, artists and locations of each piece, visit seerockcity.com/barns2birdhouses.
Participating Artists and Installations
| Location | Artist | Installation |
| Chattanooga Theatre Center | Rondell Crier | SEE THEATRE COME ALIVE |
| Creative Discovery Museum | Alecia Vera Buckles | SEE CREATIVITY AT PLAY |
| Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) | Briah Gover | SEE CHATTANOOGA TAKE FLIGHT |
| Chattanooga Choo Choo | Cooper Carl | SEE THE SCENIC CITY |
| Erlanger Park, Lookouts Stadium | Justin Butts | SEE THE LOOKOUTS WIN |
| Main Street, Lafayette, Ga. | Jonathan Bidwell | SEE OUR TOWN |
| Tennessee Aquarium | Alex DeHart | SEE LIFE UNDERWATER |
| Chattanooga Zoo | Alex DeHart | SEE GLOBAL WILDLIFE |
| Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum | Alex DeHart | SEE HISTORY ON THE RAILS |
| Chief John Ross House | Alex DeHart | SEE HISTORY HERE |
| Sculpture Fields | Keith Snider and Michael Brandt | SEE A WORK OF ART |
| Downtown Branch – Chattanooga Library | Matt Dutton | FROM BARN TO BIRDIE |
| Rock City | Butch Anthony | MINI-MUSEUM OF WONDER |
| St. Elmo Triangle (Coming soon) | Keith Snider and Michael Brandt | SEE SEVEN STATES |
About Rock City
Perched high atop Lookout Mountain, Ga., just six miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., Rock City is a unique, natural, outdoor attraction featuring woodland trails that wind through giant rock formations, past 500 species of native plants and creative art installations, out to sweeping views. It is a geological and botanical wonder, seamlessly blending nature and creativity. Known for its iconic features such as Lover’s Leap, High Falls, the Swing-A-Long Bridge, and Fairyland Caverns, Rock City has been welcoming guests since 1932.
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