Livingston Buy Local

It started with the railroad. Like many western towns, Livingston has its roots in the building of railroad lines, including a spur line to Yellowstone National Park that made Livingston the first Gateway to “Wonderland.” Some believe that this legacy accounts in part for the diverse population today. The park has drawn visitors and explorers from around the world for nearly a century and a half. Some came back to stay.

Livingston has more than 400 buildings on the National Historic Register. Backed by the Absaroka Mountains, Livingston streets contain classic brick-front buildings over 100 years old. Many still show vintage hand-painted signs.

Livingston’s monthly Art Walks and its creative resources have earned it the nickname “The Heart of Art in Montana.” Over a dozen galleries, a host of well-known artists and writers, and numerous fine artisans creating everything from jewelry to furniture, add a cultural element to a vibrant downtown commercial and historic district.

Paradise Valley, south of town, is the route to Yellowstone National Park, just an hour’s drive away. The Yellowstone River runs through it, and the Valley draws fishermen, hikers, campers, river rafters, kayakers, cross-country skiers, hunters, climbers,mountain bikers, photographers, and the wildlife for which Montana is known.

No wonder the Livingston area was the setting for “A River Runs Through It” and “The Horse Whisperer.” Proximity to some of the country’s best downhill skiing rounds out the recreational picture.