The nearby Lake James is a local tourist attraction, and has been the backdrop for movies such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunt for Red October.

McDowell played a large role in the Battle of Cowpens when he helped defeat the British in January 1781.

Restoration plans are underway to preserve this historic house and ensure that it remains a vital part of Marion's history.

The Big Fire Until the late 19th century, Main Street was a collection of mostly wooden huts, houses, and buildings.

The few brick buildings on Main Street were also gutted, and because there was no public water supply, bucket brigades were hurriedly formed to halt the advance of the fire.

Showing the resiliency possessed by the citizens, the city came together and took on the rebuilding process, making Marion larger and stronger than before.

Depression Era & Labor Conflict On Oct. 2, 1929, the McDowell County sheriff and several deputies faced a group of workers outside the fence in front of the Marion Manufacturing Company, whose 600 employees had been on strike for four months.

Sinclair Lewis wrote a syndicated newspaper report entitled "Cheap and Contented Labor: The Picture of the Southern Mill Town."

Four churches, St. John's Episcopal Church (1882), First Baptist (1914), First Presbyterian (1923), and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (1935); two former hotels, the Eagle Hotel, which survived the 1894 fire, and the Hotel Marianna (1910); a bank on Main Street built in 1903; the McDowell County Courthouse, which was constructed in 1928; the Marion Depot (1867), which is the oldest surviving depot on the Western Rail Line; the Public Library (1937), which was originally built as a post office; and the Marion Community Building, built in 1937.

The Small Town of the Year Award recognizes a town or small city “that embraces citizen engagement, values diversity, and fosters strong partnerships.”[12] Marion serves as a gateway from Interstate 40 to many nearby attractions and recreation activities in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Marion Marauders, a Tar Heel League baseball club, were a favorite local attraction in the 1940s and 1950s, and were the home team of star pitcher Kelly Jack Swift, who in 1953 became the last minor league pitcher to ever win 30 games in a season, going 30–7 with a 2.54 ERA.

On July 18, 2011, the town held a ceremony to dedicate a Carolina blue historical marker downtown in front of City Hall, listing Marion as the birthplace of Coach Williams, as well as his many awards and accomplishments.

Marion continues to be a community that values athletics, especially the "Fightin' Titans" of McDowell High, whose girls' basketball team won the 1992 North Carolina 4A State Championship.

Marion’s current Police Chief is Allen Lawrence, while the McDowell County Sheriff is Ricky Buchanan.

Named in honor of the county's namesake, Colonel Joseph McDowell, the greenway follows the flow of the Catawba River.

Benches, picnic tables, fitness stations, fishing piers, and a canoe launch are scattered throughout the three-mile trail.

In downtown Marion, the restored Marion Depot, the oldest surviving depot on the Western Rail Line, hosts a number of community events each month, and is available for rental to individuals and groups for meetings, receptions, parties, and other functions.

Downtown Marion’s most recent change has been the renovation of the Former West Rock plant into a community business complex which plays host to a municipal events center, several business including Barbershops, Martial Arts Schools and tasty restaurants such as the Marion Wing Factory and Burrito Bro’s.

In 2023 the Miller Complex hosted famous musician Oliver Anthony who became widely known for his song “Rich Men North of Richmond” Nearby Lake James provides fishing, camping, and recreation for residents of McDowell and Burke counties.