Marshall, MO

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Marshall is a small town located centrally in the heart of Missouri between Kansas City and St. Louis. This farming community is steeped in history from the charming Victorian homes to the site of the Civil War “Battle of Marshall.” As in times past, the Marshall Municipal Band still performs on the town square Thursday evenings throughout the summer months.

Sixty-five acres of land for the city of Marshall was donated by Jeremiah O’Dell, deeded on April 13, 1839. It was named for the United States Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall, when chosen for the county seat. After the first two courthouses in Marshall were lost to fires, the Saline County Courthouse was constructed in January 1882. It was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is an enduring landmark in the center of the Marshall Square and a legacy of nineteenth century architecture.

Marshall is rich in music history. Marshall is the home of Bob James, the acclaimed jazz musician, the Foothills Fest Music Festival, The Marshall Municipal Band and also notably the home to the Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra. The Orchestra performs every year for the public, free of charge, and has been featured in the LA Times in 2006 and on NBC’s American Almanac in December 1985 among other local media outlets. The Philharmonic Orchestra has been performing for 52 years and counting. The Philharmonic usually performs on the Courthouse lawn every week during the summer months and fills the town square with music.

During the Civil War, Marshall was garrisoned by Union Troops. Although Marshall was strategically unimportant, the town was the victim of two Confederate raids and site of the climactic Battle of Marshall.