931-423-4111

COUNTIES

Along The Byway

Cumberland County

The settlement was referred to as Crossville, and that name was chosen in the 1830s.

Visitor Center

Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce

34 S. Main St.
Crossville, TN 38555
Phone: 931-484-8444

Website

Travel Route Description
Shortly after crossing into Cumberland County from Putnam County, visitors enter into Crossville on US 70N/TN 24. The old road alignment travels north just past Bakers Crossroads and circles Crossville to the north. In Crossville the Byway route follows US 70N/TN 24/West Avenue and continues onto US 70/TN 1/West Avenue. A left turn onto US 70/TN 101/TN 1 directs Byway visitors through Crossville to the town limit.

Less than five miles from Crossville travelers will enter into Crab Orchard known for the unique Crab Orchard Stone that is quarried there. The Byway generally realigns with the old roadbed about midway between Crossville and Crab Orchard.

View to Agricultural Land, Looking Southeast Toward Crossville

Continuing on US 70/TN 1 the next stop is Ozone, a small town known for its remarkable waterfall located just off of the Byway. Heading east on the Byway, visitors will follow US 70 Scenic/TN 1 to the Cumberland/Roane County line.

Historic Context
Cumberland County’s seat is appropriately named Crossville, as it stands at the historical intersection of two significant thoroughfares: the Kentucky stock road, on which livestock was moved between Kentucky and Chattanooga, and the Walton Road. Around 1800, early settler Samuel Lambeth built a store at this crossroads. The settlement was referred to as Crossville, and that name was chosen when a post office was established in the 1830s here. When Cumberland County was created, Crossville became the county seat due to its location near the center of the county’s land area. Even though, several other communities within the county had larger populations such as Crab Orchard, Mayland, and Grassy Cove.

During the Civil War, Cumberland County’s population was evenly divided between pro-Union and pro-Confederate sentiments. Though no battles were fought here, the county suffered from war-torn families. As with other areas in Tennessee rich in natural resources, Cumberland County attracted northern developers after the Civil War. Timber and coal were the foremost products, though agricultural crops did very well here, too. The Tennessee Central Railroad came through the county in 1900, expanding access to a wider market. Further infrastructure development occurred after World War I with new highways such as US 70 linking Crossville with other commercial centers, such as Sparta to the southwest and Jamestown to the northeast.

Cumberland Mountains
During the Great Depression, a federal housing project was established south of Crossville, named Cumberland Homesteads. It was established in 1934 by the New Deal-era Division of Subsistence Homesteads. The project was envisioned as a model farming community providing small-acreage homesteads to over one hundred families. Residents were to subsist on produce from their land and work in community-owned businesses. Though the project was dismantled in the 1940s, families remained on their homesteads. Cumberland Mountain State Park was developed within the Homesteads during the same period.

World War II brought new employment opportunities to Cumberland County, including a POW camp where captured Germans and Italians were detained. The building of Interstate 40 through Cumberland County following the war opened up the rural county for rapid development of manufacturing operations, retirement communities, and world class golf courses. The county’s population boomed in the late twentieth century.

Historic Sites

Cumberland County Courthouse

Cumberland County Courthouse

Crossville, Tennessee

The Cumberland County Courthouse was built in 1905 and designed with elements of the Victorian Romanesque style. It was built using Crab Orchard stone, a sandstone prevalent in the region.
Palace Theater

Palace Theater

Crossville, Tennessee

The Palace Theater was constructed in 1938 of Crab Orchard stone and served as the city’s primary movie theater for much of the 20th century. The theater has been restored for live concerts as well as movies.

Directions

Website

Tennessee Highway Patrol Office

Tennessee Highway Patrol Office

Crossville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Highway Patrol Office is located in downtown Crossville adjacent to the courthouse. Built in 1930 of Crab Orchard stone, this building is representative of the improvements in highway construction and management in the early 20th century.
Cumberland Mountain School

Cumberland Mountain School

Crossville, Tennessee

The Cumberland Mountain School was built in 1919 and served as one of the county’s main educational facilities for several decades. It was listed on the National Register in 1993.

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Visitor Sites & Attractions

Crossville Depot

Crossville Depot

Crossville, Tennessee

The Crossville Depot was built in 1926 and replaced the original building at the site. Now at the Depot, visitors can treat themselves to gourmet sweets, coffees and teas, and gift items. Additionally, the Depot offers a meeting room for a variety of occasions.

Directions

Website

Cumberland County Playhouse

Cumberland County Playhouse

Crossville, Tennessee

Managed and directed by the Crabtree family since 1965, the Playhouse is a four-theater complex with a professional company and staff of 16 and more than 100 visiting professionals and volunteers. Supporting the arts around the region, the Playhouse focuses on the “homegrown part of rural America,” with works based on Tennessee and Southeastern history and culture, as well as Appalachian themes. The Playhouse is one of the ten largest professional theaters in rural America.

Directions

Website

Military Memorial Museum

Military Memorial Museum

Crossville, Tennessee

From the Civil War to the War in Iraq, this museum houses representations and memorabilia from armed conflicts at home and abroad, as well as artifacts from the World War II P.O.W. camp that was located in Crossville. Visitors to the museum will be taken back in history to reflect on the efforts and stories of the U.S. military.

Directions

Website

Obed River Arboretum

Obed River Arboretum

Crossville, Tennessee

A Class I Arboretum is featured along the course of the paved Obed River Trail adjacent to the Obed River. A paved surface multi-use trail is for public use by non-motorized traffic, including walkers, runners, roller-blade enthusiasts and bicycle riders. The trail originates at the Cumberland County Obed River Park, a county owned park facility that features three picnic shelters, restrooms, and a playground. On the trail, a visitor passes two foot bridges, two historical markers, views the scenic Obed River and experiences a large number of native Cumberland Plateau plants, trees, and wildflowers. The trail gradually climbs to a large rolling meadow that has a segment of an abandoned railway corridor and the ruins of one of Cumberland County’s first dams. The Obed River Arboretum includes many native species of trees that have identification markers.

Directions

Website

Palace Theater

Palace Theater

Crossville, Tennessee

An entertainment center in Crossville since 1938, the fully restored Palace Theatre is a multi-use community auditorium and visitors’ center. Musical concerts of Jazz, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, and Rock are frequently held at the Theatre. The auditorium is also available for community and business use.

Directions

Website