Point Lookout, a rocky outcropping atop Lookout Mountain, commands a sweeping view of the Tennessee River and the city of Chattanooga.

The mountain was captured by Union forces in 1863, and shortly thereafter an enterprising photographer opened a summit studio, taking portraits of Union soldiers posing on the cliffs and on the distinctive formation known as Umbrella Rock.

Soldiers returning home with photos of the magnificent view helped raise the profile of the scenic spot, which became a major tourist destination. Thousands of people climbed to the point to have their pictures taken on the precarious-looking stack of rocks, which was finally fenced off in 1940 over safety concerns.

These images, assembled by the Chattanooga historical organization Picnooga, capture almost 80 years of photo opportunities on Umbrella Rock.