Marshall is a city in northeastern Texas and has several nicknames that it goes by, such as the "City of Seven Flags," the "Cultural Capital of East Texas," "Center Stage," the "Athens of Texas," the "Gateway of Texas" and the "Pottery Capital of the World." Marshall was a hub for politics and production during the Civil War for the Confederacy, and later became a major railroad center for the T&P Railroad. Marshall is known for hosting one of the largest light festivals in the country, the "Wonderland of Lights."