Visit Livingston TN
The Overton County Courthouse and the courthouse square in Livingston, Tennessee, wide view

Overton County, Tennessee

Things to do in Livingston

A county seat of under four thousand people, fifteen miles north of Cookeville, with a state park, a famously clear lake and a courthouse square you can walk in an afternoon. Here is what is actually here.

Updated 2026-08-12 · 29 places, every one checked against a live source

Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Where to start

Start on the square

An aerial of downtown Livingston with the courthouse and its lawn in the middle of the square, storefronts on all four sides and the plateau hills behind
An aerial of downtown Livingston with the courthouse and its lawn in the middle of the square, storefronts on all four sides and the plateau hills behindCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

Livingston is a county seat, and county seats keep their business in one place. The Overton County Courthouse went up in 1868-69, replacing the one that burned during the Civil War, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Everything downtown is arranged around it, close enough that you can park once and walk the rest.

Two blocks off the square, the Overton County Heritage Museum occupies the county's old sheriff's office and jail on West Broad Street, a two-storey brick building the county leased to the historical society once the new justice center was finished. It opened in March 2002 with a few exhibits and a handful of volunteers, and has since grown to fill the upper floor. Hours are short, so check before you drive up.

What the museum actually holds

The collection runs to military items from the Civil War, the First World War and the Second, old medical instruments and equipment, early farm implements, and home-life pieces from the depression years. On loan from the Clyde York 4-H Camp there is a display of artifacts from Camp Crossville, the POW camp that held German and Italian prisoners during the Second World War. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

The post office is worth a look

The post office at 105 South Court Square was built in 1936-37 with federal Treasury Department money, to a design by Neal Melick. Inside hangs The Newcomers, an oil-on-canvas mural painted by Margaret Covey Chisholm in 1940 and commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It is a working post office, so business hours are the hours.

On foot

The Livingston Mural Trail is a self-guided walk that starts from the Greetings from Overton County mural on the courthouse square. The Antique Market, also on the square, holds booths from more than forty dealers, and the Millard Oakley Public Library is a block from it, free, and a reasonable place to sit out a wet afternoon.

Two parks in town

Central Park Livingston opened downtown in 2017 with a guitar-shaped splash pad, a walking loop and an amphitheater that runs the Live in Livingston concert series in warm months. Livingston City Park (Recreation Park / City Ballpark) is the working end of the same idea: ball fields, pickleball courts, walking paths and a public pool in summer.

Also worth knowing

Overton County Arts runs classes, bimonthly Art Mixers and a K-12 program, and much of it is open to the public. The Livingston-Overton County Farmers Market runs seasonally from May through November. Out on Old Highway 42 between Livingston and Rickman, Roaring River Church and Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in the county. Colonel Stephen Copeland, a Revolutionary War soldier who settled near the north fork of the Roaring River, helped build and establish the church on land he held by state grant; records of the Green River Association show the congregation existed by 1801 with twenty-seven members, and on 19 April 1823 Copeland sold three acres and forty poles to the Roaring River Baptist Society for sixteen dollars and twenty-five cents. He is said to be buried in the cemetery, in an unmarked grave. There are no facilities there. It is a stop, not a site.

retail shops
retail shopsCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
A brick historic courthouse with white windows and a decorative white gable at the top, backlit by the setting sun. An American flag is flying in front of the building, and there are street lamps, benches, and a few trees in the surrounding area.
A brick historic courthouse with white windows and a decorative white gable at the top, backlit by the setting sun. An American flag is flying in front of the building, and there are street lamps, benches, and a few trees in the surrounding area.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A painted brick wall reading Greetings from Overton County, Est. 1806, with a banjo, a guitar, an eagle, a bass boat and the Tennessee tri-star
A painted brick wall reading Greetings from Overton County, Est. 1806, with a banjo, a guitar, an eagle, a bass boat and the Tennessee tri-starCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
American flag and Tennessee state flag flying outside a brick building under a partly cloudy sky.
American flag and Tennessee state flag flying outside a brick building under a partly cloudy sky.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A colorful mural painted on a brick building wall featuring various images, including a boat, a bird, and a large circle with white stars and a red outline.
A colorful mural painted on a brick building wall featuring various images, including a boat, a bird, and a large circle with white stars and a red outline.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

How it got here

A short history of Overton County

State marker 2D 55, Birthplace of Lester Raymond Flatt, standing in front of the courthouse with E.B. Gray Jewelry on the square behind it
State marker 2D 55, Birthplace of Lester Raymond Flatt, standing in front of the courthouse with E.B. Gray Jewelry on the square behind itCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

The Tennessee legislature carved Overton County out of Jackson County on 12 September 1806 and named it for John Overton, a judge of the state supreme court who founded Memphis with Andrew Jackson and James Winchester. It was a much bigger county then: all of what is now Fentress, and parts of Clay, Putnam, Cumberland and Scott. Four counties were later cut out of it, Fentress in 1823, Putnam in 1842, Clay in 1870 and Pickett in 1879.

Monroe held the county's business first, with a courthouse built there in 1810. Traffic shifted, and in 1835 the seat moved to Livingston. The town itself had been laid out two years before that: on 10 August 1833 a forty-acre tract sold for two hundred dollars and was divided into a hundred and twenty building lots, with one lot of 268 feet held back for the courthouse and another, with a large spring on it, held back for the town's water. The name honours Edward Livingston, who was a congressman, then a senator, then Andrew Jackson's secretary of state. Livingston was formally incorporated on 1 February 1907.

The courthouse burned, and this is the one that replaced it

In 1865 a company of Confederate guerrillas under Captain John Francis burned the courthouse down. The Overton County Courthouse standing on the square today was built in 1868-69 by the architect-contractor Josiah S. Copeland, whom the National Register file lists as Joe Copeland, at a recorded cost of $9,999. It went on the National Register on 13 November 1980, cited for Greek Revival and Federal architecture and a period of significance running from 1850 to 1874. The words IN GOD WE TRUST are carved into the brick above the door.

The stone the park is named after is not in this county

The Standing Stone was a thirteen-foot rock that stood upright on a sandstone ledge, held to mark the boundary between Cherokee and Shawnee territory and to stand on the Cherokee Tallonteeskee Trail. An eight-foot remnant of it is preserved at Monterey, which is in Putnam County, one county south. Standing Stone State Park took the name; the stone itself never was inside the county line.

The New Deal built a good deal of what you will visit

Work at Standing Stone began in 1935 with three aims at once: move farmers off the badly eroded Mill Creek ground, put the forest back, and build somewhere for people to go. The Resettlement Administration, the WPA and the CCC all worked on it. State plans in 1938 called for $53,213 of cabins, an amphitheater, a boathouse, a recreation hall, picnic shelters, a pump house and a group camp, and on 23 March 1939 the park passed to the Division of State Parks. The sixty-nine-acre lake sits behind a three-hundred-foot dam of rock-faced coursed stone and concrete, which is still the most impressive thing in the park. The same decade put up the post office on the square and the native-limestone gymnasium at Alpine.

What the record still holds

Governor Roberts's law office in Livingston was measured and photographed for the Historic American Buildings Survey, so the federal record carries the south front, the porch detail and the inside of the room where he worked. The 1974 federal DOCUMERICA survey went to Crawford and photographed the deserted general store and post office there, mail slots still in the wall, after the coal went out of the community. Both sets are public domain and several frames are further down this page.

Tennessee Historical Commission marker commemorating the Fisk Female Academy, Hilham, Overton County, TN
Tennessee Historical Commission marker commemorating the Fisk Female Academy, Hilham, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry (photographer) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
albert houston roberts house
albert houston roberts houseCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
The courthouse in late sun, IN GOD WE TRUST carved into the brick, Welcome banners on the lamp post and a historical marker across the lawn
The courthouse in late sun, IN GOD WE TRUST carved into the brick, Welcome banners on the lamp post and a historical marker across the lawnCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Black and white photo of a street view in Livingston, Tennessee, showing vintage cars parked along the curb in front of the U.S. Post Office and a large tree.
Black and white photo of a street view in Livingston, Tennessee, showing vintage cars parked along the curb in front of the U.S. Post Office and a large tree.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Black and white photo of a brick courthouse building with tall windows and an arched doorway, surrounded by trees and parked cars in the background.
Black and white photo of a brick courthouse building with tall windows and an arched doorway, surrounded by trees and parked cars in the background.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

Out of town

Standing Stone and the woods

A man and a boy walk across a suspension bridge in a green forest, with the boy holding onto the bridge's handrails.
A man and a boy walk across a suspension bridge in a green forest, with the boy holding onto the bridge's handrails.Hillman / courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

About ten miles northwest of the square, Standing Stone State Park covers 855 acres around a 69-acre lake made by damming Mill Creek. The stonework is CCC-era and it is what most people remember about the place. There are trails, rental cabins, a campground and rowboats in season, and day use is free. Give it an afternoon.

Wrapped around the park, Standing Stone State Forest (WMA) adds nearly 11,000 acres managed by TWRA. It is open for hunting and dog training in season and for walking and wildlife watching the rest of the year. Check TWRA season dates before you go, and wear orange during big-game seasons.

Children playing marbles at an organized marble tournament
Children playing marbles at an organized marble tournamentdoe-oakridge / Wikimedia Commons · Public domainTaken in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (photographed May 17, 1947), not in Overton County.

If you brought a machine

Cub Mountain ATV Park & Campground at Crawford runs about fifty miles of trails across roughly 1,900 acres, with a stocked four-acre fishing lake, waterfalls, old coal-mining sites and camping. Admission is paid. If you would rather stay in the car, the Cumberland National Scenic Byway - Overton County segment runs SR 42 south of town and SR 52 northwest toward the park, passing the square on the way. For nine holes, Hidden Valley Golf & Country Club has been in Livingston since 1966 and is open to the public most days, members and guests only on Sundays.

Group of people, including children and adults, standing on a wooden deck with a railing, outdoors in a park-like setting with green trees and blue sky.
Group of people, including children and adults, standing on a wooden deck with a railing, outdoors in a park-like setting with green trees and blue sky.Hillman / courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A calm lake surrounded by wooded hillsides, viewed from its shoreline within Standing Stone State Park.
A calm lake surrounded by wooded hillsides, viewed from its shoreline within Standing Stone State Park.Aussiedogphotog / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Standing Stone Lake viewed from the Overton Lodge, looking northwest, at Standing Stone State Park
Standing Stone Lake viewed from the Overton Lodge, looking northwest, at Standing Stone State ParkBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The top of the CCC-era stone dam at Standing Stone State Park
The top of the CCC-era stone dam at Standing Stone State ParkAussiedogphotog / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The bottom of the CCC-era stone dam at Standing Stone State Park
The bottom of the CCC-era stone dam at Standing Stone State ParkAussiedogphotog / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The big one

Out on the water

two people kayaking
two people kayakingCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher

Dale Hollow is a 27,700-acre reservoir on the Obey River, and the water is clear enough to see the bottom in the shallows. It has a national reputation for smallmouth bass. Overton County's own access point is Dale Hollow Lake - Overton County access (Mitchell Creek Marina / Livingston Boat Dock) near Allons, which older maps and older people still call the Livingston Boat Dock.

For staying the night on the lake, Obey River Park Campground near Monroe is a Corps of Engineers park with more than 120 sites, the largest swimming beach on Dale Hollow, a boat ramp, and bald eagles in winter. Reservations go through recreation.gov and the season runs roughly mid-April to late October.

two people kayaking
two people kayakingCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
person fishing during sunset
person fishing during sunsetCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
group boating on a lake
group boating on a lakeCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
people on a speed boat
people on a speed boatCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
group enjoying boating on the lake
group enjoying boating on the lakeCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher

Past the city limits

Out in the county

Welcome to Livingston sign surrounded by yellow and green plants along a road.
Welcome to Livingston sign surrounded by yellow and green plants along a road.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

Overton County is bigger than its county seat, and most of it is communities of a few hundred people with a post office, a church and a road running through. Alpine, Hilham, Rickman, Monroe, Allons, Crawford, Timothy, Hardy's Chapel. None of them are attractions. All of them are worth the drive if you want to see what the county actually looks like.

Alpine

A school has been on Alpine Mountain since about 1821, when John Dillard is generally credited with founding the Alpine Academy. The Presbyterian Board of Missions re-established it as the Alpine Institute in 1917, after a survey found the Upper Cumberland short of schools; the first class graduated in 1924 and Miller Hall went up in 1922. By the 1930s the campus had a dispensary with a full-time nurse, a woodshop, a manse and two dormitories. The high school closed in 1947 and its students went to Livingston Academy. What stands now is a 25-acre National Register historic district, listed on 15 November 2002: the 1934 Christ Church Presbyterian, the gymnasium the WPA built in 1939, and the shop building, all of them laid up in the same native stone, with farmland running to the edge.

Hilham

Moses Fisk established Hilham in 1805, which makes it the first town in the county. The Tennessee General Assembly chartered his school that same year and the Fisk Female Academy for Girls opened in 1806, the first school for females in the South; Fisk and Sampson Williams each put in a thousand dollars. The building burned in 1817, was rebuilt, and then served as a school for males; Fisk ran it until shortly before he died in 1843. The academy is gone and a Tennessee Historical Commission marker on State Route 85 stands where it was. There is also a post office, a Methodist church, and Claude Lee's Service Station still on the highway.

Crawford

Crawford was a coal community. What is left includes an abandoned general store and former post office, photographed by Jack Corn for the federal government in April 1974 and now in the National Archives. Cub Mountain's ATV trails run on the old mining ground above it.

child splashing in water
child splashing in waterCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
holly ridge wine and a tractor
holly ridge wine and a tractorCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
child playing in water
child playing in waterCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
aerial view
aerial viewCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
Children playing in a splash pad at Livingston Central Park with yellow umbrellas and people sitting on benches.
Children playing in a splash pad at Livingston Central Park with yellow umbrellas and people sitting on benches.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

Eating

Where to eat

classy chicken meal
classy chicken mealCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher

There is no restaurant district here. There are locally owned kitchens, most of them within a few blocks of the courthouse, and most of them done serving before a city dinner hour. Eat early.

Plates and barbecue

Stover's Country Kitchen serves breakfast all day alongside hamburger steak, pinto beans and cornbread, and it is the closest thing to a default answer in town. For barbecue there are two different arguments: 1806 BBQ sits right on the courthouse square doing pulled pork, brisket, wings and a salad bar, while Brazen Que cooks Texas-style over live oak. Casa Mexicana covers Tex-Mex near the square, and Angelina's Italian Subs & More is a counter making Italian subs and pasta from family recipes.

Coffee and afternoon

Wired Coffee Co has been going since 2017 on espresso, cold brew and a chicken salad sandwich people order by name. Ruby & Lee Coffee and Bakehouse is on the square inside the Market on Main boutique, doing cinnamon rolls, muffins and breakfast sandwiches. In summer, The Sno Shack is a walk-up shaved ice stand with a short food menu attached, afternoons and evenings, closed Sundays.

Aerial view of a small town during a music concert with a stage at the center, surrounded by a crowd, food stalls, and a playground with basketball courts, set against a backdrop of green hills and trees at sunset.
Aerial view of a small town during a music concert with a stage at the center, surrounded by a crowd, food stalls, and a playground with basketball courts, set against a backdrop of green hills and trees at sunset.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, and mac & cheese plate from a Nashville barbecue restaurant
Pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, and mac & cheese plate from a Nashville barbecue restaurant Taken in Nashville, Tennessee, not in Overton County.Gatorfan252525 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Timing

The town's calendar

People sitting on blankets watching an outdoor movie on a large screen in a park during evening with trees and buildings in the background.
People sitting on blankets watching an outdoor movie on a large screen in a park during evening with trees and buildings in the background.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

Overton County runs on annual events more than on year-round attractions, so when you come changes what there is to do. The Overton County Fair is the county's agricultural fair at the fairgrounds, with cattle and livestock shows, pageants and wild mule shows.

In autumn, Fall-O-Ween in Livingston spreads across the historic square and Central Park from September into late October, finishing with a Halloween weekend of trick-or-treating. Paint Livingston, run by Overton County Arts, brings plein air painters from several states to work around town and ends with a Quick Paint contest on the square. In December the Livingston-Overton County Christmas Parade comes down Main Street with floats, marching bands and Santa.

The Overton County Courthouse lit red and green at night, a lit Christmas tree in front of it and the square packed with people
The Overton County Courthouse lit red and green at night, a lit Christmas tree in front of it and the square packed with peopleCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
band playing under blacklight
band playing under blacklightCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
mules pulling carriage
mules pulling carriageCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
band playing on stage
band playing on stageCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
The covered amphitheatre stage at Central Park in Livingston, with the Hargrove and Mofield building on the rise behind it
The covered amphitheatre stage at Central Park in Livingston, with the Hargrove and Mofield building on the rise behind itCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher

If you only have one day

One good day in Livingston

Livingston is small enough to see properly in a day, if you take it in the right order. Start on the square, get out of town by early afternoon, and be back for supper.

  • Morning

    Overton County Courthouse and the square

    Start where the town starts. The 1868-69 brick courthouse is on the National Register, and the block around it holds most of what is worth walking to — the antique dealers, the coffee counters, the Greetings from Overton County mural. Half an hour on foot, longer if you shop.

  • Late morning

    Overton County Heritage Museum

    Two blocks off the square, in the county's old sheriff's office and jail. It is a small local museum run by the historical society, and it holds an iron lung — one of roughly thirty-five left in the country. Check the hours before you drive up; they are short.

  • Noon

    Stover's Country Kitchen

    Lunch, plainly. Breakfast is served all day, and the rest is hamburger steak, pinto beans and cornbread. Small-town kitchens here close early, so eat before one.

  • Afternoon

    Standing Stone State Park

    Ten miles northwest, and the reason most people leave the highway. An 855-acre park around a 69-acre lake, with CCC stonework, trails off the lake loop, and rowboats in season. Free to enter. Give it two hours minimum, or the whole afternoon.

  • Evening

    Central Park Livingston

    Back in town. A 2017 downtown park with a splash pad, a walking loop and an amphitheater that runs the Live in Livingston series in warm months. Free, and it is where the evening actually happens.

The whole list

Everything in Livingston & Overton County

Listed alphabetically inside each category. Nothing here is ranked, and nothing is paid for.

Category
Good for

29 places

  • Outdoors & water

    Central Park Livingston

    A downtown municipal park opened in 2017 with a guitar-shaped splash pad, playground, walking trail, picnic shelter and an amphitheater that hosts the seasonal Live in Livingston concert series. Free, and a short walk from the square.

    • Good with kids
    • Free
    • Open dawn to 10pm daily; splash pad most used in warmer months.

    140 S Spring St, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-1269

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  • Outdoors & water

    Cub Mountain ATV Park & Campground

    A privately owned ATV park on roughly 1,900 acres at Crawford, with about fifty miles of trails for ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes, a stocked four-acre fishing lake, waterfalls, old coal-mining sites and camping. Paid admission.

    • Good with kids

    306 Threet Road, Crawford, TN 38554931-445-3032

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  • Outdoors & water

    Cumberland National Scenic Byway - Overton County segment

    The byway's Overton County stretch runs SR 42 south of Livingston and SR 52 northwest toward Standing Stone, passing the courthouse square on the way. It is the drive to take if you want the county without a trail.

    • Good with kids
    • Free

    Livingston, TN

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  • Outdoors & water

    Dale Hollow Lake - Overton County access (Mitchell Creek Marina / Livingston Boat Dock)

    Dale Hollow is a 27,700-acre reservoir on the Obey River with water clear enough to see the bottom in the shallows, and a national reputation for smallmouth bass. Overton County's access point is Mitchell Creek Marina near Allons, formerly the Livingston Boat Dock.

    • Good with kids
    • Marina hours Mon-Sat 8am-4pm, closed Sunday per one listed source.

    1260 Livingston Boat Dock Road, Allons, TN 38541(931) 823-6666

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  • Outdoors & water

    Hidden Valley Golf & Country Club

    A semi-private nine-hole course in Livingston built in 1966, open to the public most days. Sundays are members and guests only.

    201 Valley Drive, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-1313

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  • Outdoors & water

    Livingston City Park (Recreation Park / City Ballpark)

    The city's recreation complex, roughly fifteen acres of ball fields, pickleball courts, walking paths and a public swimming pool. This is where the town's own ball games happen rather than a visitor attraction.

    • Good with kids
    • Pool is seasonal (summer months).

    Livingston, TN

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  • Outdoors & water

    Obey River Park Campground

    A Corps of Engineers campground on Dale Hollow near Monroe with more than 120 sites, the lake's largest swimming beach, a boat ramp and winter bald-eagle viewing. Reservations run through recreation.gov.

    • Good with kids
    • Typically open mid-April through late October; day-use fee around $5 per vehicle.

    100 Obey Park Rd, Monroe, TN 38573931-864-6388

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  • Outdoors & water

    Standing Stone State Forest (WMA)

    Nearly 11,000 acres of TWRA-managed forest wrapping around the state park, open for hunting and dog training in season and for hiking and wildlife watching otherwise. Check TWRA season dates and wear orange during big-game seasons.

    • Free
    • Dog training season Sept 1 - Mar 15; hunting follows statewide seasons; license/WMA permit fees may apply.
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  • Outdoors & water

    Standing Stone State Park

    An 855-acre state park about ten miles northwest of town, built around 69-acre Standing Stone Lake on dammed Mill Creek. Trails, rental cabins, a campground and rowboats, plus the CCC-era stonework the park is known for. Day use is free.

    • Good with kids
    • Free
    • Pool and swimming are seasonal (warm months); camping and cabins available year-round. Hosts the National Rolley Hole Marbles Championship each September.

    Hilham, TN

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  • Square, shops & history

    Livingston Mural Trail

    A self-guided walk past hand-painted murals downtown, starting from the Greetings from Overton County mural on the courthouse square. Free, walkable, and about as long as you want to make it.

    • Good with kids
    • Free

    Historic Downtown Square, Livingston, TN 38570

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  • Square, shops & history

    Livingston-Overton County Farmers Market

    Locally grown produce and goods from area farmers, operating seasonally from May through November.

    • Good with kids
    • Free
    • May to November

    141 First Street, Livingston, TN 38570931-823-1269

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  • Square, shops & history

    Millard Oakley Public Library

    The public library for Livingston and Overton County, with books, audiobooks, movies, internet access and a program calendar that runs from preschool storytime to teen events. A reasonable rainy-afternoon stop, and free.

    • Good with kids
    • Free

    107 E Main St, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-1888

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  • Square, shops & history

    Overton County Arts

    A nonprofit that runs art classes, bimonthly Art Mixers, K-12 art education and the Libby Allen Art Contest. Worth checking their calendar before a visit; much of what they do is open to the public.

    • Good with kids

    Livingston, TN

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  • Square, shops & history

    Overton County Courthouse

    A two-story brick Federal-style courthouse built in 1868-69, replacing the one burned during the Civil War, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It anchors the square that everything else downtown is arranged around.

    • Good with kids
    • Free

    100 East Court Square, Livingston, TN 38570

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  • Square, shops & history

    Overton County Heritage Museum

    The county's museum occupies the former sheriff's office and jail on West Broad Street and opened in March 2002 as a project of the Overton County Historical Society. Military items from the Civil War and both world wars, old medical instruments, farm implements and depression-era home life, plus a Camp Crossville POW display on loan from the Clyde York 4-H Camp.

    • Good with kids
    • Free

    West Broad Street, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 403-0909

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  • Square, shops & history

    Roaring River Church and Cemetery

    One of the oldest church and burial grounds in the county, founded by Revolutionary War veteran Colonel Stephen Copeland in the late 1700s; the Baptist congregation was chartered in 1801. It sits on Old Highway 42 between Livingston and Rickman, with no visitor facilities — it is a stop, not a site.

    • Free

    Old Highway 42, between Livingston and Rickman, Overton County, TN

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  • Square, shops & history

    The Antique Market

    A shop on the courthouse square housing booths from more than forty antique dealers — estate and costume jewelry, primitive furniture, pottery, quilts and the rest of it.

    116 N Court Sq, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-4943

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  • Places to eat

    1806 BBQ

    Barbecue right on the courthouse square — pulled pork, smoked brisket, wings and a salad bar, plus burgers. Dine-in, takeout and delivery.

    114 N Court Square, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-1806

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  • Places to eat

    Angelina's Italian Subs & More

    A counter-service sub shop making Italian subs and pasta from family recipes, named for the owner's husband's grandmother. Takeout.

    920 Overton Plz, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-2867

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  • Places to eat

    Brazen Que

    Texas-style craft barbecue cooked over live oak: brisket, sausage and ribs. Outdoor dining, catering, and wheelchair accessible.

    5172 Bradford Hicks Dr, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 300-2228

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  • Places to eat

    Casa Mexicana

    A sit-down Mexican restaurant near the square serving standard Tex-Mex.

    440 Market Square Plaza, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-8870

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  • Places to eat

    Ruby & Lee Coffee and Bakehouse

    A bakery and coffee counter on the downtown square inside the Market on Main boutique — cinnamon rolls, muffins, breakfast sandwiches and espresso.

    101 S Court Square, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-2253

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  • Places to eat

    Stover's Country Kitchen

    A hometown diner serving breakfast all day alongside hamburger steak, pinto beans and cornbread. Counter-and-table service, Southern plates, the kind of place the town actually eats at.

    • Good with kids

    511 E Main St, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-9550

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  • Places to eat

    The Sno Shack

    A walk-up shaved ice stand with dozens of flavor combinations, plus a short food menu of hamburger steaks and baked potatoes. Afternoons and evenings, closed Sundays.

    • Good with kids

    718 W Main St, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 823-7669

    Visit site ↗
  • Places to eat

    Wired Coffee Co

    A locally owned coffee shop open since 2017 doing espresso, cold brew and smoothies, plus a chicken salad sandwich it is known for locally.

    • Good with kids

    1185 Preston St, Livingston, TN 38570(931) 403-9417

    Visit site ↗
  • Annual events

    Fall-O-Ween in Livingston

    An autumn run of events on the historic square and in Central Park, stretching from September through late October and finishing with a Halloween weekend of trick-or-treating.

    • Good with kids
    • September to late October

    Historic Livingston Square and Central Park, Livingston, TN 38570

    Visit site ↗
  • Annual events

    Livingston-Overton County Christmas Parade

    A long-running holiday parade down Main Street with floats, marching bands and Santa. December.

    • Good with kids
    • Free
    • December

    Main Street, Livingston, TN 38570

    Visit site ↗
  • Annual events

    Overton County Fair

    The county's annual agricultural fair at the Overton County Fairgrounds — cattle and livestock shows, pageants, wild mule shows and the rest of the fair calendar.

    • Good with kids
    • July

    610 Monterey Highway, Livingston, TN 38570

    Visit site ↗
  • Annual events

    Paint Livingston

    An annual plein air painting competition run by Overton County Arts that draws painters from several states to paint around town, ending with a Quick Paint contest on the square.

    • Good with kids
    • late September to early October

    Livingston Downtown Square, Livingston, TN 38570

    Visit site ↗

Worth the drive but outside Overton County: Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery (Clay County), Willow Grove Campground (Clay County).

Before you go

Know before you go

Where is Livingston, and how do I get there?

Livingston is the county seat of Overton County, in the Upper Cumberland region of Middle Tennessee, approximately 15 miles north-northeast of Cookeville. Cookeville is the nearest town on Interstate 40, so most visitors exit there and drive north. There is no commercial air service or passenger rail in the county.

What is the best season to visit?

Spring and fall are the most comfortable for anything outdoors. Summer is hot and humid, and the water — lake and creek — is the point of the season. Winter is quiet and cold; some seasonal attractions and campgrounds reduce hours or close, so call ahead between November and March.

Do I need a car?

Yes. Points of interest are spread across a rural county, there is no meaningful public transit, and the distances between the square, the state park and the lake are driving distances, not walking ones.

What should I know about small-town hours?

Many businesses here keep weekday hours, close early, and are closed Sundays; some close Saturday afternoons as well. Kitchens in particular often stop serving well before big-city dinner hours. Check hours the day you go rather than trusting a listing — including the ones on this page.

Where do people stay?

Lodging in the county runs to a small number of motels, cabins and short-term rentals, plus campgrounds and lakeside sites in season. Visitors wanting a wider choice of chain hotels generally stay in Cookeville and drive up.

Is the town walkable?

The courthouse square is, and that is the part worth walking — the museum, library, shops and several kitchens are within a few blocks of each other. Everything past the square assumes a car.

The county

Every photograph on this page is freely licensed and credited to the person who took it. Nothing here is generated, and nothing is stock standing in for somewhere else.

Boathouse along Standing Stone Lake, accessible from the Lake Trail, viewed from the Cooper Mountain Loop Trail
Boathouse along Standing Stone Lake, accessible from the Lake Trail, viewed from the Cooper Mountain Loop TrailBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Young forest trail along the crest of Cooper Mountain in Standing Stone State Forest, part of the Cooper Mountain Loop Trail
Young forest trail along the crest of Cooper Mountain in Standing Stone State Forest, part of the Cooper Mountain Loop TrailBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Dale Hollow Lake (Obey River), viewed at dusk from an overlook along Tennessee State Highway 111 near Byrdstown, Pickett County
Dale Hollow Lake (Obey River), viewed at dusk from an overlook along Tennessee State Highway 111 near Byrdstown, Pickett CountyBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir on the Obey River, Clay County, Tennessee, looking northeast upriver
Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir on the Obey River, Clay County, Tennessee, looking northeast upriverJames St. John / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Aerial view of Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown, TN, gateway to the lake
Aerial view of Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown, TN, gateway to the lakeDalehollow / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The East Fork Obey River, photographed from the bridge along Highway 85 in western Fentress County, where it slices a 10-mile gorge through the Cumberland Plateau
The East Fork Obey River, photographed from the bridge along Highway 85 in western Fentress County, where it slices a 10-mile gorge through the Cumberland PlateauBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
View looking northwest across the northern Highland Rim (rolling wooded ridgeline and farmland) from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower at Standing Stone State Park, Overton County
View looking northwest across the northern Highland Rim (rolling wooded ridgeline and farmland) from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower at Standing Stone State Park, Overton CountyBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
View along the south side of the courthouse square in Livingston, Tennessee, with Main Street storefronts
View along the south side of the courthouse square in Livingston, Tennessee, with Main Street storefrontsBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Buildings along the western side of the courthouse square in Livingston, Tennessee
Buildings along the western side of the courthouse square in Livingston, TennesseeBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
The Overton County Courthouse building, viewed from the southeast
The Overton County Courthouse building, viewed from the southeastBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Overton County Courthouse in Livingston, Tennessee, viewed from Main Street
Overton County Courthouse in Livingston, Tennessee, viewed from Main StreetBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The 1940s-era Quonset hut serving as the American Legion Bohannon Post #4 building in Livingston, Tennessee
The 1940s-era Quonset hut serving as the American Legion Bohannon Post #4 building in Livingston, TennesseeBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The Victorian Stick/Eastlake style wood-frame law office of Tennessee Governor A. H. Roberts, relocated to Roberts Street and University Avenue in Livingston, Tennessee
The Victorian Stick/Eastlake style wood-frame law office of Tennessee Governor A. H. Roberts, relocated to Roberts Street and University Avenue in Livingston, TennesseeBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The Overton County Heritage Museum, a historic downtown building in Livingston, Tennessee
The Overton County Heritage Museum, a historic downtown building in Livingston, TennesseeBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Southward autumn forest vista from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower, Standing Stone State Park, Overton County, TN
Southward autumn forest vista from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower, Standing Stone State Park, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Sunset over the Highland Rim viewed from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower, Standing Stone State Park, Overton County, TN
Sunset over the Highland Rim viewed from the Goodpasture Mountain fire tower, Standing Stone State Park, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Pedestrian bridge over Mill Creek connecting the Mill Creek Trail and Cooper Mountain Loop Trail, Standing Stone State Park
Pedestrian bridge over Mill Creek connecting the Mill Creek Trail and Cooper Mountain Loop Trail, Standing Stone State ParkBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The rustic cabin area at Standing Stone State Park, cabins built in the 1940s, part of the Standing Stone Rustic Park Historic District (NRHP)
The rustic cabin area at Standing Stone State Park, cabins built in the 1940s, part of the Standing Stone Rustic Park Historic District (NRHP)Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Kelly Lake, also known as Standing Stone Lake, within the Standing Stone Rustic Park Historic District
Kelly Lake, also known as Standing Stone Lake, within the Standing Stone Rustic Park Historic DistrictAussiedogphotog / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The historic Officer Farmstead house (NRHP, ref. 01000469), 189 Rock Springs Road, Monterey, Overton County, TN, built in the early 1800s
The historic Officer Farmstead house (NRHP, ref. 01000469), 189 Rock Springs Road, Monterey, Overton County, TN, built in the early 1800sBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Post office and other buildings along Celina Highway (State Route 52) in Allons, Overton County, TN
Post office and other buildings along Celina Highway (State Route 52) in Allons, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Buildings along State Route 136 in the Hardy's Chapel locality, southern Overton County, TN
Buildings along State Route 136 in the Hardy's Chapel locality, southern Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The post office in the Monroe community, Overton County, TN
The post office in the Monroe community, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Post office and adjacent business on Rickman Road (SR 42) in the Rickman community, Overton County, TN
Post office and adjacent business on Rickman Road (SR 42) in the Rickman community, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Rickman Elementary School and nearby homes in the Rickman community, viewed from State Route 42, Overton County, TN
Rickman Elementary School and nearby homes in the Rickman community, viewed from State Route 42, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Residential and commercial buildings along State Route 136 in the Timothy locality, northern Overton County, TN
Residential and commercial buildings along State Route 136 in the Timothy locality, northern Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Spring Creek, a Tennessee state scenic river, at the boundary between Putnam and Overton counties, TN
Spring Creek, a Tennessee state scenic river, at the boundary between Putnam and Overton counties, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
An abandoned storefront and former post office in Crawford, a depopulated former coal-mining community in Overton County, TN, photographed April 1974; a retired local miner appears in the frame
An abandoned storefront and former post office in Crawford, a depopulated former coal-mining community in Overton County, TN, photographed April 1974; a retired local miner appears in the frameJack Corn / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
The former woodshop building on the historic Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TN
The former woodshop building on the historic Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Farmland near the former Alpine Institute campus with Alpine Mountain in the distance and the former dairy barn at right, Alpine, Overton County, TN
Farmland near the former Alpine Institute campus with Alpine Mountain in the distance and the former dairy barn at right, Alpine, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The former manse, now a private residence, on the historic Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TN
The former manse, now a private residence, on the historic Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The 1939 WPA-built native-limestone former gymnasium of the Alpine Institute (1821-1947), Alpine, Overton County, TN
The 1939 WPA-built native-limestone former gymnasium of the Alpine Institute (1821-1947), Alpine, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The post office building in Alpine, Overton County, TN, historically tied to the Alpine Institute
The post office building in Alpine, Overton County, TN, historically tied to the Alpine InstituteBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The 1934 Christ Church Presbyterian building on the former Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TN, still in active use
The 1934 Christ Church Presbyterian building on the former Alpine Institute campus, Alpine, Overton County, TN, still in active useBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The post office building in Hilham, Overton County, TN
The post office building in Hilham, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Tennessee State Route 85 looking west toward its junction with SR 136 in Hilham, Overton County, TN, spring 2018
Tennessee State Route 85 looking west toward its junction with SR 136 in Hilham, Overton County, TN, spring 2018Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
The Hilham United Methodist Church building in Hilham, Overton County, TN
The Hilham United Methodist Church building in Hilham, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Claude Lee's Service Station and neighboring businesses on State Route 85 in Hilham, Overton County, TN
Claude Lee's Service Station and neighboring businesses on State Route 85 in Hilham, Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
The green community-name road sign for Hilham along State Route 85 (Hilham Highway), Overton County, TN
The green community-name road sign for Hilham along State Route 85 (Hilham Highway), Overton County, TNBrian Stansberry (photographer) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Clean, symmetrical front-elevation view of the law office's Victorian porch, gable, and 'Law Office of Albert H. Roberts, 1868-1946' plaque, with picket fence and lawn.
Clean, symmetrical front-elevation view of the law office's Victorian porch, gable, and 'Law Office of Albert H. Roberts, 1868-1946' plaque, with picket fence and lawn.Historic American Buildings Survey, creator (photographer not individually credited) / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Color portrait of a retired coal-mine operator standing at the overgrown, timber-framed entrance of the mine he once ran, part of Jack Corn's 1974 DOCUMERICA documentation of the collapsed coal-mining economy of the Wilder-Davidson-Crawford mining complex.
Color portrait of a retired coal-mine operator standing at the overgrown, timber-framed entrance of the mine he once ran, part of Jack Corn's 1974 DOCUMERICA documentation of the collapsed coal-mining economy of the Wilder-Davidson-Crawford mining complex. Taken in Near Wilder, Fentress County, Tennessee (at the Fentress/Overton/Putnam county line; NOT confirmed to be inside Overton County), not in Overton County.Jack Corn / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Sunset over the Highland Rim, viewed from the edge of the Cumberland Plateau just off US-70
Sunset over the Highland Rim, viewed from the edge of the Cumberland Plateau just off US-70 Taken in White County, Tennessee (near Sparta) — Cumberland Plateau escarpment, not Overton County, not in Overton County.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Open agricultural fields with tree lines and rolling terrain
Open agricultural fields with tree lines and rolling terrain Taken in Star Point area, Pickett County, Tennessee (Pickett County borders Overton County directly to the north), not in Overton County.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
View along the deck of a steel-truss highway bridge crossing the Obey River, framed by its overhead truss and the 'Landon B. Hassler Memorial Bridge' sign, with the impounded river below.
View along the deck of a steel-truss highway bridge crossing the Obey River, framed by its overhead truss and the 'Landon B. Hassler Memorial Bridge' sign, with the impounded river below. Taken in Byrdstown, Pickett County, Tennessee (NOT Overton County, but immediately adjacent, on the Obey River near Dale Hollow Lake), not in Overton County.Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, HAER TN-34-1 · Public domain (U.S. government work; HABS/HAER/HALS collection)
person fishing on a lake during sunset
person fishing on a lake during sunsetCourtesy Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce · Used with permission of the publisher
A decorative fountain surrounded by rocks in a park with green grass, trees, and a brick building in the background.
A decorative fountain surrounded by rocks in a park with green grass, trees, and a brick building in the background.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A brick building with white trim and the words 'In God We Trust' inscribed on it. There are American flags and other banners around. Traffic lights and street signs indicate the intersection of Church Street and East Court Square. Several cars and trees are in the foreground, set against a sky with white clouds.
A brick building with white trim and the words 'In God We Trust' inscribed on it. There are American flags and other banners around. Traffic lights and street signs indicate the intersection of Church Street and East Court Square. Several cars and trees are in the foreground, set against a sky with white clouds.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A brick building with the words 'Tennessee' and the number '38570' on it.
A brick building with the words 'Tennessee' and the number '38570' on it.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
The same painted wall seen end-on into the sun, the Tennessee tri-star filling the near end
The same painted wall seen end-on into the sun, the Tennessee tri-star filling the near endCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Colorful mural on a brick wall featuring trees, a lake, and outdoor scenes. A sign indicates the location is Standing Stone State Park, Tennessee, 11 miles away, established in 1939, with references to the WPA work program.
Colorful mural on a brick wall featuring trees, a lake, and outdoor scenes. A sign indicates the location is Standing Stone State Park, Tennessee, 11 miles away, established in 1939, with references to the WPA work program.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A red brick building with white trim and multiple windows, a flagpole with the American flag, and the words 'In God We Trust' on the brick wall. The sun is setting behind a tree, casting a warm glow and lens flare. Streets and sidewalk are in the foreground.
A red brick building with white trim and multiple windows, a flagpole with the American flag, and the words 'In God We Trust' on the brick wall. The sun is setting behind a tree, casting a warm glow and lens flare. Streets and sidewalk are in the foreground.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A three-story brick building with a sign reading 'Hargrove & Mofield Hardware Co.' on the upper facade, with three large windows on the second floor and storefronts on the ground level. Several parked cars, including a red SUV and a black Jeep, are in front of the building on a parking lot under a clear blue sky.
A three-story brick building with a sign reading 'Hargrove & Mofield Hardware Co.' on the upper facade, with three large windows on the second floor and storefronts on the ground level. Several parked cars, including a red SUV and a black Jeep, are in front of the building on a parking lot under a clear blue sky.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A young woman handing a cup of ice cream to a boy at an ice cream shop. The shop has signs for Western Auto and a stack of cups on the counter.
A young woman handing a cup of ice cream to a boy at an ice cream shop. The shop has signs for Western Auto and a stack of cups on the counter.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Brick building with signs for The Antique Market and General Store, offering furniture, jewelry, herbs and crafts. Blue sky with some clouds.
Brick building with signs for The Antique Market and General Store, offering furniture, jewelry, herbs and crafts. Blue sky with some clouds.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Aerial view of a baseball complex with multiple baseball fields illuminated at dusk, surrounded by parking lots, residential houses, and trees.
Aerial view of a baseball complex with multiple baseball fields illuminated at dusk, surrounded by parking lots, residential houses, and trees.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Exterior of Millard Oakley Public Library at dusk with lit building and American flag in front.
Exterior of Millard Oakley Public Library at dusk with lit building and American flag in front.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Exterior of a rural farmer's market with a covered parking area, green shrubbery, and a sign reading "Farmer's Market" featuring a farmer silhouette
Exterior of a rural farmer's market with a covered parking area, green shrubbery, and a sign reading "Farmer's Market" featuring a farmer silhouetteCourtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A small, light-colored building with a metal roof, labeled as Overton County Heritage Museum. There is a sign on the front of the building, a flagpole with an American flag, a small path leading to the entrance, and a painted mural on the left side depicting a historic scene. Green grass and trees are in the background.
A small, light-colored building with a metal roof, labeled as Overton County Heritage Museum. There is a sign on the front of the building, a flagpole with an American flag, a small path leading to the entrance, and a painted mural on the left side depicting a historic scene. Green grass and trees are in the background.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Golf course with lush green grass, scattered trees, and a flag on a hole, set against rolling hills and a partly cloudy sky.
Golf course with lush green grass, scattered trees, and a flag on a hole, set against rolling hills and a partly cloudy sky.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
Historic house with white wooden exterior, red front door, and decorative trim, surrounded by a black fence and greenery.
Historic house with white wooden exterior, red front door, and decorative trim, surrounded by a black fence and greenery.Courtesy City of Livingston · Used with permission of the publisher
A row of mail slots and post office fittings sit amid the debris of an abandoned general store and post office building in Crawford, Tennessee, a once-booming coal mining town.
A row of mail slots and post office fittings sit amid the debris of an abandoned general store and post office building in Crawford, Tennessee, a once-booming coal mining town.Jack Corn · Public domain
The exterior of a deserted general store building in Crawford, Tennessee, with a retired miner standing outside who had just come from the small post office there.
The exterior of a deserted general store building in Crawford, Tennessee, with a retired miner standing outside who had just come from the small post office there.Jack Corn · Public domain
A close-up of various expired state licenses posted inside a deserted general store in Crawford, Tennessee; the last license issued to the store was in 1966.
A close-up of various expired state licenses posted inside a deserted general store in Crawford, Tennessee; the last license issued to the store was in 1966.Jack Corn · Public domain
A general view of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office at 114 East Main Street in Livingston, Tennessee, and its surrounding environs, seen from the southwest.
A general view of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office at 114 East Main Street in Livingston, Tennessee, and its surrounding environs, seen from the southwest.Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Library of Congress · Public domain
The south front and east side elevations of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office building at 114 East Main Street, Livingston, Tennessee, documented for the Historic American Buildings Survey.
The south front and east side elevations of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office building at 114 East Main Street, Livingston, Tennessee, documented for the Historic American Buildings Survey.Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Library of Congress · Public domain
A detail view of the south front porch of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office in Livingston, Tennessee, seen from the southwest, showing its columns and roofline.
A detail view of the south front porch of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office in Livingston, Tennessee, seen from the southwest, showing its columns and roofline.Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Library of Congress · Public domain
An interior view of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office in Livingston, Tennessee, looking south toward the front of the building.
An interior view of the Governor Albert H. Roberts Law Office in Livingston, Tennessee, looking south toward the front of the building.Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Library of Congress · Public domain
A Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker standing in Livingston, Tennessee, recounting the construction of the Overton County Courthouse.
A Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker standing in Livingston, Tennessee, recounting the construction of the Overton County Courthouse.Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 4.0
A Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker standing in Livingston, Tennessee, dedicated to bluegrass musician Lester Flatt.
A Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker standing in Livingston, Tennessee, dedicated to bluegrass musician Lester Flatt.Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 4.0
The brick Overton County Courthouse with its clock tower and columned entrance, photographed from the southeast corner of the square.
The brick Overton County Courthouse with its clock tower and columned entrance, photographed from the southeast corner of the square.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A row of two- and three-story brick commercial storefronts along the western edge of the Livingston courthouse square.
A row of two- and three-story brick commercial storefronts along the western edge of the Livingston courthouse square.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission cast-metal marker on a post, with text recounting the construction of the Overton County Courthouse.
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission cast-metal marker on a post, with text recounting the construction of the Overton County Courthouse.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission marker honoring bluegrass musician Lester Flatt, standing on its post in Livingston.
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission marker honoring bluegrass musician Lester Flatt, standing on its post in Livingston.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A small white wood-frame Victorian Stick/Eastlake-style building with an ornamented gable and porch, the relocated law office of Tennessee governor A. H. Roberts.
A small white wood-frame Victorian Stick/Eastlake-style building with an ornamented gable and porch, the relocated law office of Tennessee governor A. H. Roberts.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A curved-roof quonset-hut-style building from the 1940s that serves as the American Legion post in Livingston.
A curved-roof quonset-hut-style building from the 1940s that serves as the American Legion post in Livingston.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The exterior of the Overton County Heritage Museum building in downtown Livingston.
The exterior of the Overton County Heritage Museum building in downtown Livingston.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A multi-story brick commercial building from 1930, now used as offices, standing across from the Overton County Courthouse.
A multi-story brick commercial building from 1930, now used as offices, standing across from the Overton County Courthouse.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A white wood-frame church building with a steeple in the small community of Hilham.
A white wood-frame church building with a steeple in the small community of Hilham.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
The small brick United States Post Office building serving the Hilham community.
The small brick United States Post Office building serving the Hilham community.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission marker recalling the Fisk Female Academy, standing beside a road in Hilham.
A gray Tennessee Historical Commission marker recalling the Fisk Female Academy, standing beside a road in Hilham.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A small roadside service station and a few neighboring businesses along State Route 85 in Hilham.
A small roadside service station and a few neighboring businesses along State Route 85 in Hilham.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
A white wood-frame church building built in 1934 on the grounds of the former Alpine Institute, where a congregation still meets.
A white wood-frame church building built in 1934 on the grounds of the former Alpine Institute, where a congregation still meets.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A native-limestone building built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939, which once housed the Alpine Institute's gymnasium.
A native-limestone building built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939, which once housed the Alpine Institute's gymnasium.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A small post office building and an adjoining business along Rickman Road in the Rickman community.
A small post office building and an adjoining business along Rickman Road in the Rickman community.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
The small post office building serving the Monroe community of rural Overton County.
The small post office building serving the Monroe community of rural Overton County.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
A post office and a few other small buildings along Celina Highway (State Route 52) in the community of Allons.
A post office and a few other small buildings along Celina Highway (State Route 52) in the community of Allons.Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Plan the drive

Livingston is about fifteen miles north of Cookeville, the nearest town on Interstate 40. Start with the state park, the lake, or the square, and work outward.

See the one-day plan Browse everything Practical questions