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About the original brass plaques
As part of the renovation effort, the Foundation offered brass plaques dedicated in the names of donors who contributed $100 to the original Walnut Street Bridge Fund. The plaques quickly became a popular item and, along with other donations, amounted to $500,000 of the $4 million total project cost. But from the start, the shiny, brass plaques that bore donors' names were the targets of theft. The vandalism peaked in 2008 when scrap metal prices were soaring — 700 of the original 1,776 plaques were missing. The city pulled up the remaining plaques that spring and turned them over to The Parks Foundation.

In 2010, the Foundation launched a new campaign to replace the brass plaques that were stolen at no charge to the original purchasers. To help offset the cost of replacing the plaques — which feature a layer of zinc, are routed and affixed into boards on the bridge with adhesive and tamper-proof screws, and are of virtually no resale value — the Foundation is offering the recovered brass plaques as mementos to their original purchasers for a donation ranging from $30-$100.

Purchase your original brass plaque
The brass plaques are truly a piece of Chattanooga history and have been cleaned and polished to a golden luster and make wonderful mementos or gifts and show your support for The Bridge in you for your home, office or business. For those whose plaques were stolen or who wish to alter the names on the plaques — things change in 20 years —the Foundation can also re-engrave the plaques at an additional cost. If you were an the donor of an original brass plaque that was recovered, you should have received our brochure mailed in June 2011. If you did not receive a brochure, but would like to know if your plaque is available, please contact us at (423) 702-6868 or use our Contact form. Unclaimed brass plaques will be repurposed and offered to the general public as a souvenir. Examples of the mounted plaques are on display at Art Creations at 201 Frazier Ave. in downtown Chattanooga.

Order online
You will be directed to your PayPal site, where you can use your credit or debit card. Our transactions are secure and you do not have to have a PayPal account to use the site. Use the drop-down menus beneath each description below to order your plaque. For more than one plaque, repeat the ordering process.

Order by mail
If you are uncomfortable using your credit card information online, please download our brochure and use the attached order form to order an original brass plaque.

Pick up or mail
You may pick up your plaque at our offices at 701 Cherokee Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (for directions, click here). Please provide your phone number and we will contact you when your plaque is ready. We can also mail your plaque to your via USPS Priority Mail if you include your address with your order.

Your donation is tax deductible. You will receive a receipt with your plaque. The City of Chattanooga technically owns the plaques.

The brass plaques are available in the following formats:






Plain Brass Plaque
Name on Plaque






Paperweight: Suede-backed. $35







Suede-backed
Name on Plaque







6 x 9 Frame w/easel: Beautifully mounted on a velvet background in a handsome frame with easel. $80







6 x 9 Framed Plaque w/easel
Name on Plaque






9 x 12 Frame w/easel: Beautifully mounted on a velvet background in a handsome frame with easel. $100







9 x 12 Framed Plaque w/easel
Name on Plaque






Your plaque donation is 100% tax-deductible under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 7.
© 2011 The Parks Foundation Email The Parks Foundation