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In 1925 and again in 1927, the County expanded the courthouse
by moving the original west and east facades sixteen feet out from the original foundations,
and in-filling the additions with matching brick. This clever engineering feat was
overseen by C.G. Lancaster, the original supervising architect for the 1901 building.
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Expanding the East Wing, 1927, Historical Museum
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Throughout the 20th century the courthouse remained the centerpiece
of community life.
The County prospered during the 1930's with the discovery of the East Texas oil and gas
field. In 1911, Caddo Lake became the site of the world's first off-shore
oil rigs, installed on the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake.
In 1961, County voters approved bonds to erect
a fifth main courthouse, which was constructed on the southwest corner of the square.
Upon its completion in 1965,
the County allocated two rooms in the old courthouse for use by the Harrison County
Historical Museum.
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Fifth Courthouse, completed 1965, Historical Museum
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Exhibit Gallery, Historical Museum
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Although the County continued to maintain the old building and retained
direct County usage until late in 1998, the museum eventually became the main tenant,
occupying more than twenty-five rooms in the structure.
The old courthouse has been dressed in Christmas lights since 1966, but in 1987 the city of
Marshall launched a seasonal festival called Wonderland of Lights.
Thousands of tiny white lights were attached to the courthouse, its trees and and buildings
around the square. Soon the event was drawing more than 750,000 visitors in five weeks
each year, earning world publicity for the community and generating valuable income from heritage tourism.
The 1901 Harrison County Courthouse is ranked among the handsomest surviving
"Temples of Justice" in the Lone Star State. It is entered on the National Register of
Historic Places, and is both a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark and a State
Archaeological Landmark. Efforts to assure its restoration began in 1993.
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