Marshall

Built at the intersection of Illinois' first state road and America's first federal highway, Marshall became a gateway community for immigrants traveling west. It was founded in 1835 by Illinois Governor Joseph Duncan and Colonel William B. Archer. Duncan brought wealth and prestige to the fledgling community, while Archer recruited merchants, masons, and tradesmen to improve, promote, and stabilize his prairie town. By 1838, Marshall's population had grown enough for it to become the Clark County seat, and the National Road became its Main Street, drawing visitors such as Abraham Lincoln, Booth Tarkington, and James Jones to its shops, hotels, restaurants, and courthouse square. Archer viewed the National Road as an avenue to growth and prosperity, and in Marshall it became known as Archer Avenue. Established by Colonel William B. Archer in 1841, the Archer House hotel served travelers on State Route 1 and the National Road and became a stagecoach hub where residents greeted travelers and received news from distant cities. In 1930, Marshall's city council began providing free electricity for porch lights to promote safety and security, earning the city a reputation as the place where the highways cross and the porch lights burn all night.

Marshall, Illinois · United States