All Aboard for this Historic Happening Spot

One of the landmarks in Downtown Crossville is the Depot. In addition to a gift shop and a delightful meeting room and patio, the Caboose is a museum that has fascination for adults and children.

The railroad tracks to Crossville were built in 1900 and the first train of the Tennessee Central arrived in September of that year. The building of the Crossville Depot was not complete, so a boxcar served as the station until the main building was built. For years, the Depot was described as "the happening spot" for the many trains and people making Crossville a highly successful town exporting rock and timber, rich in goods, and increasing number of visitors and travelers.

In 1925, on Valentine's Day, the original Crossville Depot burned down. The community was quick to re-build it across the tracks from where it first stood. The new Crossville Depot building at its current location was finished in May of the following year.

Over the years the Depot was the arrival-and-departure happening spot for both ordinary and famous people. Three of the famous people were Dr. May Cravath Wharton (the Doctor Woman of the Cumberland's, founder of Cumberland General Hospital and Uplands Village in
Pleasant Hill and of Cumberland Medical Center), Alvin C. York (World War I Metal of Honor), and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (to visit the Cumberland Homesteads).

In the early 1980s, for various economic and social reasons, the railroad stopped running and the Crossville tracks were removed. The Depot, then owned by the state, was not maintained for many years and fell into ruin.

In 1996, the local community, led by Bob Patton, began a renovation project with the three Rotary Clubs of Cumberland County and many others of the community. The state government turned the Depot over to the City of Crossville who leased it to the Rotary Foundation to manage the Depot as a "community service project." Larry Doster, owner of the
Crossville Trophy & Gifts Shop on Main Street, became the "manager-and-scheduler" of the Depot, a position he and his wife Chris held for 17 years. According to Larry, "the rental rate was set low so people could easily rent it for family and community events." Larry continued, "In my experience, about 75% of the meeting room events are family oriented, 25% are organizations, businesses, or churches."Larry reports that he never owned a model train himself, but he put one into the Depot Gift Shop. "Actually, prisoners figured out how to install the tracks so that the train would not jump the track as it rounded the curves."

Larry and Chris left the Depot management after 17 years, to spend more time with family and grandchildren.

In August 2014, the City of Crossville awarded the management contract to the C.A.T.S. Gallery (Cumberland Artists of Tennessee Studio - Gallery). The C.A.T.S. group ran the Depot until the summer of this year, when they notified the City they were disbanding as an organization.

The Crossville City Council voted to take over the operation of the Depot, it will function as a mini-welcome center with information about activities / events and organizations and businesses of Crossville. The gift shop will feature " Made in Tennessee " products. The meeting room is getting a makeover with a new hardwood floor being installed as well as several other improvements. This space will continue to be scheduled for many community and private events. The Caboose, which was renovated by volunteers of Downtown Crossville Inc., will be open during all of the Depot hours for the public to enjoy.

The Depot will be open Monday through Friday, and a half day Saturday. There will also be special events to enjoy. To schedule the meeting Room, call 931-456-2586. We look forward providing information to guests visiting our community.

 Crossville Area Accommodations

Dog Park Rules  The dog park is now open and in use. The park is open during daytime hours only, as there is not lighting. To get to the dog park, enter Centennial Park at the Warner Complex entrance. Follow the parking lot to the right and you will see signs. The entrance is just across the foot bridge. If you need assistance, stop in the park office. Please remember, City Ordinance states all dogs must be restrained on a leash at all times. (except once inside the dog park fence)

The Historic Palace Theatre

Community Auditorium, Meeting & Information Center

Ronny Hill
Administrator

 Buy Tickets Here

The Palace theatre opened in November of 1938 and played an important part in the lives of many people and the community. The Palace is fully restored now and is a multi-use community auditorium and visitors' center. Originally the Palace was intended to be an entertainment center and we have stayed true to that historic vision, featuring live entertainment in variety of musical styles. We host concerts of Jazz, Blues, Country, Bluegrass and Rock just to name a few. The Palace provided the public with a distraction from everyday life to the public during the difficult war years and still provides a high quality "something to do" for fun seekers of all ages in the Crossville, Cumberland Plateau and the East TN area. Our newly renovated auditorium and premium sound system ensure that you will enjoy whatever show you see here.

   Still, the Palace Theatre is not only what it used to be, it is much more. The Palace is also a wonderfully functional community center, meeting hall and multi-media facility, suitable for sales or training presentations, committee meetings or even regional trade shows. If you need a centrally located place to hold your seminars or professional classes, The Palace has the projectors for your PowerPoint presentation, as well as a concession stand for class breaks or lunch and the friendly staff to support ALL your training needs. If your business needs a larger area, for large scale lectures or awards ceremonies, the auditorium itself, can be utilized in conjunction with some of the other common areas to give your business function plenty of room and a professional atmosphere. 

Some of our other benefits include:

• Professional sound system
• Theatre class lighting
• A newly acquired Baby Grand Piano
• Acoustic surfacing
• Full Kitchen
• Pleasant, well lit café
• Internet connectivity and Wireless

The Palace Theatre; More than a movie house!