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Marshall Texas
 Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall, Texas |
Marshall, the county seat of Harrison County, Texas, has a population of about 23,000 residents as of the 2020 Federal Census.
It is located on Interstate Highway I-20, U.S. 59, and Historic U.S. Highway 80, about 150 miles east of Dallas, and about 40 miles west of Shreveport.
Its economy is strong and diverse, and the oil and gas industry continues to play a major role in economic development.
Area communities include Kilgore, Gladewater, Mineola, Longview, Grand Saline, Mt. Pleasant, and Henderson.
We've been visiting Marshall for literally decades, and always enjoy our time there!
Marshall Tourist Attractions and Things to Do
Founded in 1841, Marshall is a major city in the East Texas economy, and a large supporter of the arts community and historical preservation. It is often called the "Cultural Capital of East Texas".
Today, Marshall has more than 100 historical markers and medallions, such as the T&P Depot marker (see below), with several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of Marshall's Victorian homes have been restored, and several function as B&Bs. Also fully restored is the Harrison County Courthouse.
Marshall Hotels and LodgingMarshall offers nearly 1,000 guest rooms in a number of hotels, motels, and other types of lodging for those visiting the city, including the ones listed below. The city also offers a range of bed & breakfasts, including Rosemont Cottage, Roseville, Pond House at Triple Creek Ranch, Three Oaks, and Wisteria Garden.
Vacation Home Rentals in MarshallPlanning a trip to Marshall and need a vacation rental?
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Marshall Wonderland of Lights Festival
 Harrison County Courthouse during the Wonderland of Lights |
Marshall is well known for its "Wonderland of Lights," one of the largest light festivals in the country when lit during the Christmas season. It is the original and largest Christmas festival in Texas, first started in 1987.
Special events included the traditional lighting ceremony, the annual lighted Christmas parade, the Wassail Walk and an opportunity to catch a showing of “The Grinch” at the newly renovated Memorial City Hall.
As for the lights that adorn Marshall’s downtown area, they typically remain up until around New Years Day.
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Piney Park Trail of Lights
Walk through a half-mile of light displays, 45-foot Christmas tree, pictures with Santa, live music, gingerbread house, 10,000 sqft light maze, food trucks, and more! It is located at 600 Martin Lake Road in Marshall.
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at PineyPark.com and Piney Park on Facebook |
Scenes at Piney Park |
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Michelson Museum of Art
The Michelson Museum of Art was established after Janine Michelson of New York City and Paris, France, widow of artist Leo Michelson, selected Marshall, Texas, as the permanent home for her husband’s work. In January 1985, a group of dedicated Marshallites visited Mrs. Michelson in New York and accepted her gift of the collection, consisting of more than 1,000 works of art created by Mr. Michelson. After fundraising and finding a suitable temporary location, the museum opened in May 1985. In April 1990, the museum moved to its present location on the first floor of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Building in downtown Marshall. A local architectural firm adapted the space that now includes three exhibit galleries, an 80-person auditorium, classroom, family Discovery Room, offices, kitchen, and work areas with both permanent and temporary storage. The museum has a total of 12,000 square feet with 750-850 linear feet in gallery exhibition areas and is completely wheelchair accessible.
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East Texas Performing Arts, Inc.
East Texas Performing Arts completed its 501(c)3 approval process in 2014, and produces full stage plays, dramas, musicals, comedies, and musical concerts in Marshall.
Productions have featured professional actors and dancers, celebrity musicians, as well as ordinary people from three states. It brings musicians from all over the world to participate in Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards. And the organization coaches, supports, and trains children, youth, and adults who deal with physical and emotional burdens, helping them create high quality performances in any genre they choose.
Performances are held in the beautiful, newly rebuilt Memorial City Hall Performance Center.
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website of East Texas Performing Arts |
Harrison County Historical Museum
The Harrison County Historical Museum offers two locations in downtown Marshall. Visit and experience Harrison County’s rich history and culture through the decades. The museum features interactive materials for all ages, including kids.
The museum's 1901 Courthouse Galleries are located at 1 Peter Whestone Square, and the Memorial City Hall Galleries at 110 East Houston.
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website of the Harrison County Historical Museum |
Starr Family Home State Historic Park
James Starr was instrumental in the design of the city of Austin. He designed the layout of the streets and the placement of the Capitol. The Starr Family Home has an extensive collection of vintage clothing from the 1800s, including Clara Starr’s mother’s (Sarah Fry Clapp) formal gown. Nestled in the heart of Marshall’s museums and cultural activities, Starr Family Home State Historic Site is composed of several elegant structures that map the 150-year history of the Starr family in Texas. Period furnishings, clothing, and antiques trace the transition of the buildings through four generations of the Starr family in Texas history. The historic site opened to the public in 1986, and is located at 07 West Travis Street. Phone 903.935.3044
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The Ginocchio
The Ginocchio, across from the T&P railroad station, is an 1896 vintage railroad eating house from the era when trains stopped every few hours for meals. The Ginocchio is a restaurant and bar with a simple mission - provide the highest quality food, beverage, and service in a truly historic and unique setting. Dine in its elegant dining room, historic bar area, or outside on the trackside patio!
It is located at 707 N. Washington Street. Phone 903.927.1400
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website of The Ginocchio |
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Texas & Pacific Railway Depot and Museum
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The historic Texas & Pacific (T&P) Railway depot and museum (see photos below) is a major tourist attraction in Marshall, as are many other historical sites that showcase Marshall's long and varied history.
Located at 800 N. Washington Street, this ornate two-story brick station, once a major interchange point and division office for the T&P, has been restored to its former grandeur.
Marshall was the site for a major locomotive and car repair shop operated by the T&P. Marshall's impressive passenger depot, constructed in 1912, was once scheduled for demolition, but a determined effort by the City of Marshall preserved the building for future generations.
The T&P rail shops closed in the 1960s, and T&P passenger service ceased in 1970.
Today, Marshall has access to passenger service via Amtrak's Texas Eagle.
The historic marker at the depot (see photo below) documents the history of the T&P in Marshall.
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website of the Texas & Pacific Depot and Railway Museum |
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T&P Depot & Railway Museum Traveler reviews and photos at TripAdvisor |
Marshall, Texas - Texas & Pacific (T&P) Railway Depot, circa 1970
(Staff Photo)
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Historical Marker about the Texas & Pacific (T&P) Depot in Marshall Texas |
Texas & Pacific Railway Shops, Marshall, Texas
Marshall Dining and Restaurant Options
Many popular restaurants offering a variety of cuisines are available in Marshall. Always favorites are the Blue Frog Grill at 101 W. Austin Street, Central Perks, Jalapeno Tree, Cafe Italia, Fuglar's Grocery & Market, El Chico's, Applebee's and many more.
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about the 70 restaurants in Marshall at TripAdvisor |
Map of Marshall Texas (courtesy of Google Maps)
Map of Showing the Location of Marshall in East Texas
Additional Resources and Information about Marshall
For more information on Marshall, we recommend a visit to ...
- City of Marshall
- Marshall News-Messenger
- Harrison County
- Texas & Pacific Depot and Railway Museum
- T&P Railfans Site
Side Trip from Marshall to Nearby Jefferson, Karnack, Uncertain and Caddo Lake
While visiting Marshall, consider the short drive north to nearby Jefferson, Karnack, Uncertain and Caddo Lake.
| Uncertain Texas ... close to Marshall City Limit Pop 85  |
Uncertain Texas ... close to Marshall and Caddo Lake  |
| Mural in downtown Jefferson Texas ... "The Golden Era" (staff photo)  |
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Caddo Lake National Wildlife RefugeOn October 19, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the establishment of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge on portions of the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant. The refuge purpose is the management, conservation, and protection of migratory birds and other fish and wildlife. This bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem provides essential habitat for a diversity of migratory and resident wildlife species in Texas. The 8,416-acre Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant (LHAAP) installation is located between State Highway 43 and Caddo Lake in Karnack, Harrison County, approximately 14 miles northeast of Marshall, and approximately 40 miles northwest of Shreveport, Louisiana. The Monsanto Chemical Company selected the site in December of 1941 to produce TNT. The Thiokol Chemical Corporation, awarded a contract in 1952 for producing solid-fuel rocket motors for the army, built a facility at Longhorn for that purpose between 1953 and 1955. Rocket motors of various kinds were produced at Longhorn until early 1971. The site is in a rural area and operated from 1942 to 1997, historically manufacturing TNT, rocket motors and various pyrotechnic items. It also played an important role in the destruction of rocket engines as part of the agreement between the United States and Russia via the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement in 1987. The Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant was listed as a Superfund site on the National Priorities List on August 30, 1990. The Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Caddo Lake Institute restored the old armory guard station to provide information and species photos to explain to the public why portions of Caddo Lake and the refuge are one of 26 sites in the United States to be recognized as “Wetlands of International Significance” under an international treaty signed by over 150 nations. An auto tour offers a great all-season way to see wildlife and habitats in the Refuge. By using the car as a viewing blind, visitors can often see more wildlife than on foot. The Refuge is located northeast of Marshall in Harrison County. Read more about the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge at the FWS and phone 903.679.9143 More about the history of the Wildlife Refuge and Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant at KETK (September 22, 2023)
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