Marathon's name was suggested by a sea captain who said the area reminded him of Marathon, Greece. Today the town on U.S. 90 at the junction with U.S. 385 is a tourist crossroads, a major gateway to Big Bend National Park, and a headquarters for vast ranching activities. Visitors can catch glimpses of the town's colorful past at the Marathon Museum and the old Marathon Jail.
Located five miles south of town on the Post Road lies what remains of old Fort Pena Colorado, built in 1879 to protect area residents from Indian raids.
Marathon, TX Historic FortsFew other historic hotels offer a more unique experience of days gone by than The Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas. The restored West Texas hotel of the 1920
Marathon, TX Historic HotelsThe Great Marathon Basin is a widely known geologic area noted for extensive surface outcroppings of varied rocks and minerals, popular with professional geologists and amateur rockhounds. A 191.2
Marathon, TX Natural AttractionsU.S. Cavalry mementos; valuable charro costumes and saddles; Southwestern history from the conquistadors to Pancho Villa in p...
Exhibits include relics of this recent frontier: Indian artifacts, fossils, mementos of the oil boom, and antique furniture. ...
Typical frontier military post established 1858 as Camp Stockton; abandoned in 1886. Fort consisted of 35 buildings made of a...
Built in 1887, the White-Pool House Museum is the oldest structure of importance in Odessa, Texas. Built by Charles and Lucy ...