Highway 190 Livingston to Jasper - part 1

Suzanne and I decided to head east for a change of scenery and visit an area of Texas that is less traveled. We chose a trip out Highway 190 starting at Highway 59, as it leaves Livingston, and following the highway all the way to the Louisiana border. As expected, the scenic rolling hills and piney forests provided the perfect backdrop for our smiling faces as we began our journey into deep East Texas.

The town of Livingston marked the starting point of our trek down highway 190, so we decided to make it our first stop. Once called Springfield, Livingston is now the county seat of Polk County and its primary attraction is the beautiful Lake Livingston State Park. The lake was formed in 1968 and provides some of the best fishing and boating opportunities in the state of Texas. Although I might have been tempted to set aside our travel plans in favor of little fishing, learning more about the history of this area remained our goal.

We started our adventure at the Polk County Memorial Museum in Livingston. This former private residence now turned into a high quality museum offered not only a view of the history of the local area, but also housed multiple impressive private collections. Some of the many exhibits included Indian artifacts, early Texas pioneer items, Civil War and World War II memorabilia, ancient fossils, rocks and gems from local to exotic, and other historic items collected by local patrons.

I was particularly impressed with the collection of Indian baskets and arrowheads assembled.  Most of the artifacts came from the Alabama-Coushatta Indians who lived in the area. Suzanne enjoyed examining the pioneer dishes and linens while I gravitated toward the guns and swords. One exhibit that captured both of our attention was the fossil, rock and gem collection. This display included some excellent samples of petrified palmwood, the state stone of Texas.  Looking at the pine covered hills in the area, it’s hard to believe that millions of years ago, this part of Texas was a lush tropical forest.

Outside of the museum, just beyond the lovely landscaped outdoor garden area, is a restored steam locomotive engine, the WT Carter Lumber Company #5, built in 1911. The closer you get to it, the more impressive its size! Next to the locomotive is an old log cabin house, majestic in its own way. The porch was quite inviting with its rocking chairs begging for someone to enjoy their view.

Though the museum is small compared to those found in large urban areas, it is well laid out and the professionally designed exhibits are easy to browse at your own pace. It’s a must see when you are in Livingston, Texas!  We wrapped up our tour and hit the road eastward to see Texas Thru My Back Door.