Region: Big Bend Country
Marathon's name was suggested by a sea captain who said the area reminded him
of Marathon, Greece. A cattle and mining shipment center in its heyday, 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, at North Third Street and Avenue E, and the old Marathon Jail
at South Second Street and Avenue C. The town hosts West Fest, complete with a
cabrito cook-off, in September, and the Fiesta de la Noche Buena takes place in
early December.