Marshall Texas: A Small Town With A Lot Of History And Big Charm

Photos & Story By Ken Hulsey

Last week, as I made my way back from some work in Arkansas, I decided to take a scenic route back to my hotel in Shreveport by traveling through Texas instead of retracing my steps through Arkansas and Louisiana. Along the way, I stumbled upon several charming small towns that I couldn’t help but think would make great weekend getaway destinations. One town that particularly piqued my interest was Marshall. I recalled reading about how Marshall was once the original headquarters of the Texas and Pacific Railway and that there might be a display commemorating the history of this now-defunct railroad. As a railfan, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to explore this piece of history.

When I arrived in Marshall, I was delighted to find a beautifully preserved Texas and Pacific depot that now serves as a museum, alongside an impressive Union Pacific caboose and a fully intact steam locomotive. However, my visit was on a Monday afternoon, and, unfortunately for me, the museum was closed that day (it operates Wednesday through Saturday). Nonetheless, I made the most of my visit by enjoying the sights from outside the structure and marveling at the vintage railroad equipment displayed on the grounds.

To my surprise, I discovered that locomotive #400, a stunning 2-8-2 Mikado, was open for visitors to climb into the cab! I couldn't believe my luck—there I was, able to sit in either the engineer or fireman seat and even tinker with the controls. Pulling on the cord to ring the bell was especially thrilling as it rang out with a delightful clang. Sitting in the engineer’s seat, leaning out the window, filled me with a sense of joy that I had to share with my wife via a phone call. I jokingly declared that I had “found my happy place” and suggested that my mail and all earthly possessions should be forwarded to the cab of #400 from now on!

Locomotive #400 holds a special place in the history of the Texas and Pacific Railway. It was the last steam locomotive purchased by the T&P in 1958, during a period when diesel-electric engines were already taking over. Number 400 came from the Fort Worth & Denver City Railway when flooding around the Red River prevented the line from using electric-powered locomotives. The T&P ultimately retired this beautiful locomotive in 1963 and generously donated it to the city of Marshall.

Realizing that I couldn't play engineer forever—and that I wouldn't be receiving my mail delivered to a locomotive cab, after all—I shifted my attention to the depot grounds. The structure itself is a real gem of early 20th-century architecture. Built in 1912, it served passengers traveling on the T&P, a route that stretched all the way from New Orleans to El Paso, until it was acquired by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1976, although they had held a majority stake since 1928. Today, this historic depot continues to serve the town of Marshall as a stop on Amtrak's Texas Eagle line, providing passenger train service between Chicago and San Antonio. It's a perfect blend of history and modern travel that makes visiting Marshall a worthwhile experience for anyone interested in trains and local heritage!

The area surrounding the depot is truly charming, filled with a delightful collection of historic homes and a lovely old hotel that has been beautifully transformed into a high-end restaurant. If you take a leisurely stroll south from the depot for about a mile, you’ll arrive at Marshall’s picturesque Whetstone Square. Here, you'll find the stunning Harrison County Courthouse, which was constructed in 1900. This magnificent structure is not just a piece of history but also widely regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Texas.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the beauty of the area, as I spent quite a bit of time at the depot and didn’t get to visit the Harrison County Historical Museum located nearby. This only adds to my excitement about planning a second trip back to Marshall! I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what this lovely town has to offer, and I know that my wife will absolutely adore exploring this charming destination with me. There’s so much to see and experience, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into all the local culture and history!

Find Out More - https://visitmarshalltexas.com/

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