13 Marvelous Things to Do in Marshall, TX

Visiting Marshall, TX soon and wondering what to expect?

With its lively downtown, status as a college town, and proximity to Caddo Lake State Park, there’s no doubt that the small town of Marshall is one of the best places to visit in East Texas.

… and that’s even before mentioning that it’s one of the best Christmas towns in Texas!

We loved our trip to Marshall, and–like so many corners of the Lone Star State–it surprised us in excellent ways.

Here are the best things to do in Marshall, Texas, plus tips for visiting!

Contents

1 The Best Things to Do in Marshall, TX
2 Where to Stay When Visiting Marshall
- - 2.0.1 Check rates & book your stay in Marshall today!
3 Visiting Marshall at Christmas
4 Where is Marshall, Texas?
5 Read More About Visiting East Texas (and Beyond)

The Best Things to Do in Marshall, TX

Check out the Starr Family Historic Site.

At only $5 per ticket, the Starr Family State Historic Site is one of the best-value house museums that I have visited anywhere in the country!

One of 41 state historic sites in Texas, the Starr Family State Historic Site features the home and (some of the) property of the prominent Starr family, who moved to Marshall in 1870 and built their home, Maplecroft, in 1871.

Visiting the historic site today primarily consists of a self-guided tour of Maplecroft, as well as the exteriors of several well-signed buildings on the ground.

The home itself is beautifully preserved and furnished, and the tour includes extensive detail on not only the family but the rest of the household and the broader impacts that household members had on the community.

Step inside the original Marshall Train Depot at the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum.

Housed in the original Texas & Pacific Railway Station, the Marshall Train Depot (not to be confused with the modern, functioning Amtrak station located right next door), a visit to the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum is an excellent way to step inside some Texas history.

It’s impossible to overstate how much the development of the railroads reshaped Texas (and the US in general), and Marshall as we know it today would not exist without this station.

The museum has fairly limited hours, and is open from 10:00 – 3 Wednesday – Friday and 11:00 – 3 on Saturdays.

You can confirm hours of operation and check details for visiting here.

Relax in downtown Marshall.

Thanks to its status as a college town and steady tourism scene, Marshall is home to a lively downtown featuring plenty of boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants, as well as a theater.

We loved strolling around downtown, and found that it reminded us a bit of visiting larger county seats like Georgetown and Denton–which is remarkable considering that Marshall’s population is only 25% or so of those places!

Don’t miss the tiny Telegraph Park while you’re there, either.

Pay a visit to the Harrison County Historical Museum.

Housed partially in the historic Harrison County Courthouse, the Harrison County Historical Museum offers a deep dive into local history–including the history of 4 of the acclaimed Tuskegee Airmen!

Spread across two locations, the numerous exhibits available at this museum are all free to enjoy (though donations are accepted).

For those traveling with young children like us, there is a children’s free play area in the museum, too!

You can check current hours and exhibit information here.

… and the Michelson Museum of Art.

The dynamic Michelson Museum of Art has a compelling history: after the Latvian-American artist Leo Michelson passed away in 1978, his extensive number of works needed a home.

In 1985, his widow, Janine Michelson of New York, opted to house her husband’s work in Marshall at the urging of a friend who was a Marshall native.

Since then, the collection has grown considerably, including many works by early-twentieth-century immigrant artists like Michelson, a collection of 19th-century African masks, and some works by well-known artists like the incredible Henri Matisse–how’s that for a surprising find in small-town Texas?

You can check hours and visiting details here.

Enjoy seasonal festivities at Piney Park.

For families looking to find seasonal attractions and festivals in Marshall, look no further than Piney Park!

This rotating park is open for 3 seasons every year (they close over the summer), and offers different attractions depending on when you visit.

Easter egg hunts in the spring, a pumpkin patch in the fall, and a Trail of Lights in the winter are just a few things you’ll find at Piney Park!

You can check seasonal offerings and see what coincides with your trip to Marshall here.

Follow the Buard Historic Trail.

Designed in 2008 to highlight the contributions of Black citizens of Marshall through the decades, the Buard Trail is named for local teacher Rebecca Buard.

Stops include Wiley University, and you can even watch a short documentary about the trail on Youtube.

Dig into a memorable plate of East Texas barbecue.

Every so often, a barbecue joint sticks out amongst the many we’ve sampled–which is high praise, considering what stiff competition there is for great barbecue in Texas!

Best of Texas Bar-B-Que in Marshall, though, absolutely stands out.

The environment alone is a treasure: located a short drive outside of town, countryside views and an outdoor stage for live music make an excellent setting. Inside, the proprietor and team couldn’t be friendlier.

And the food? That absolutely stacks up too. I started making a list of dishes that were particularly memorable, but it was truly most of them (the beans may be the best we’ve had at a Texas barbecue joint).

Best of Texas Bar-B-Que is only open Thursday through Saturday, so be sure to mark your calendar when planning a trip to Marshall!

Learn about the history of Boogie Woogie (and maybe attend the annual festival).

Boogie Woogie–also sometimes written as Boogie-woogie–is a specific genre of Blues music that was widely popular in the 1920s… and it got its start among the Black community of Marshall, Texas.

While it’s worth learning a bit about the history and maybe playing some Lead Belly songs while you’re in town, music fans may also want to plan a trip to Marshall to attend the annual Boogie Woogie festival!

Keep your eyes peeled for ghosts on Stagecoach Road.

Widely considered to be one of the most haunted places in Texas, legend and intrigue have stalked this dirt road in Marshall since the 1850s.

A Voodoo queen escaped from New Orleans, an evil priest, a woman in white, and a child’s handprint on a car window are just a few spooky stories that stalk this spot.

Apart from any scary legends or tragic histories, though, Stagecoach Road is located a lovely and fairly short drive out of town–it makes for an easy detour when exploring the area!

Stop by the Bear Creek Smokehouse and General Store.

Since 1943, Bear Creek Smokehouse has been proudly offering smoked meats from their base in Bear Bottom, Texas–just outside of Marshall.

And, while the brand ships nationally, you can also visit the Bear Creek Smokehouse and General Store when visiting Marshall!

In addition to shopping, you can grab lunch on-site, and on Saturdays, The Pit is open and serving barbecue from 11:00 until 3:00 or when they’re sold out (here’s the menu).

Head out to Caddo Lake State Park.

Caddo Lake is anything but your standard Texas lake, and is easily one of the most unique places in the Lone Star State.

Lined with bald cypress trees, populated with alligators, and best explored by boat (or kayak), visiting Caddo Lake is an experience to remember.

Caddo Lake State Park is located about 25 minutes from Marshall (though you may need to drive further into the park to reach your final destination), and while it’s not technically in town, it’s a major draw to the area!

Where to Stay When Visiting Marshall

Due in part to its location just off of I-20, Marshall has a wide variety of standard chain hotels to choose from.

Of these, the highest rated is the Hampton Inn, which features an outdoor pool, an included breakfast, and a very convenient location.

We stopped in Marshall at the last minute and were traveling with our dog, Ranger, so opted to stay at the La Quinta out of very limited options. It was perfectly adequate, but not a hotel or breakfast that we’d write home about.

Marshall is also located a mere 20 minutes from Jefferson, which is famous for its many historic bed and breakfasts and hotels!

If you’re looking to enjoy both cities, opting to stay at popular places like The Steamboat Inn or the Historic Kahn Hotel in Jefferson and then commuting to Marshall is also another solid option.

(Marshall’s most famous 19th-century hotel, The Ginocchio, no longer accepts overnight guests–but the building is now a restaurant!).

Check rates & book your stay in Marshall today!

Visiting Marshall at Christmas

While there are plenty of fun things to do in Marshall year-round, there’s no doubt that the Christmas season is one of the most popular times to visit!

As one of the top Christmas towns in Texas, December brings lights, Santa visits, historic carousel rides, a Christmas market, carriage rides, and more to Marshall as part of the Wonderland of Lights event.

Piney Park also joins the festivities with its Winter Festival and Trail of Lights!

While certain events (like Santa visits) only run at certain times, the Wonderland of Lights festival overall is open from late November through December each year.

Where is Marshall, Texas?

Marshall is located just north of I-20 in East Texas.

It’s a bit over 2 hours (150 miles) east of Dallas, or 3.5 hours (220 miles) north of Houston.

A trip to Marshall is easily combined with a visit to Jefferson, Caddo Lake State Park, and/or Longview (home of the annual Great Texas Balloon Race!).