Altitude 3,762

General

The city grew from earlier settlements dating back to the Juan de Ornate expedition in 1598 and a settlement by Juan Maria Ponce de Leon in 1827. Although area mission predate that of a civil settlement by almost 150 years. The largest U.S. city on the Mexican border; neighboring Juarez, is Mexico's largest border city. Combined populations are about two million. Located in ancient mountain pass from which the name derived (Pasa de Norte) surrounded by mile-high peaks. Symphony orchestra, Theatre, museums, libraries, and diversified sporting activities including horse an greyhound racing, polo, tennis, football, and basketball. Home of the University of Texas at El Paso, noted for Bhutanese style architecture and the Sun Bowl Stadium.

BORDER PATROL MUSEUM

CHAMIZAL NATIONAL MEMORIAL

EL PASO CENTENNIAL MUSEUM

EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART

EL PASO MUSEUM OF HISTORY

EL PASO/JUAREZ TROLLEYS

FORT BLISS

AIR DEFENSE AND ARTILLERY MUSEUM

FORT BLISS MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF THE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER

3RD ARMORED CAVALRY MUSEUM

HUECO TANKS STATE PARK

INSIGHTS - EL PASO SCIENCE CENTER

MAGOLFFIN HOME STATE HISTORIC STRUCTURE

OLD MISSIONS

NUESTRA SEMORA DEL CARMEN

NUESTRA SENORA DE LA CONCEPCIOIN DEL SOCORRO

MISSION TOUR

SCENIC DRIVES

SIERRA DE CRISTO REY

TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION; YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO

SPEAKING ROCK BINGO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

VIVA EL PASO!

WESTERN PLAYLAND

WILDERNESS PARK MUSEUM

ZOO

Attractions

• BORDER PATROL MUSEUM - Presents the rich heritage of the U.S. Border Patrol. Equipment, documents, books, and memorabilia available to the casual visitor or the scholar. Transmountain road (Loop 375)
• CHAMIZAL NATIONAL MEMORIAL - Cites amicable settlement of long-standing border dispute between U.S. and Mexico. In an area by the Rio Grande where a new channel marks adjusted international boundary. Visitor center, exhibits, films in Spanish and English on Chamizal and of border history. Paisano and San Marcial Streets.
• EL PASO CENTENNIAL MUSEUM - Archaeology, anthropology, geology; photos and maps show historical development of El Paso. Campus University of Texas at El Paso, University Avenue and Wiggins Road.
• EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART - Multimillion dollar Kress Collection and Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington; frequent exhibits of classical and contemporary Mexican and Southwestern art. 1211 Montana Avenue.
• EL PASO MUSEUM OF HISTORY - U.S. Cavalry mementos; valuable charro costumes and saddles; Southwestern history from the conquistadors to Pancho Villa in pictures. I-10 at Loop 375 (Avenue of The Americas).
• EL PASO/JUAREZ TROLLEYS - An easy and fun way to cross the border to shop and sightsee in Juarez, Mexico. is by trolley. Air-conditioned rubber-tired trolleys depart from the Civic Center on the hour.
• FORT BLISS - U.S. Army post established in 1848 as defense against hostile Indians and to assert the U.S. authority over lands acquired after the Mexican War. headquarters for Confederate forces in the Southwest during the Civil War, later refitting post for military efforts against the wily, much-feared Apache chief, Geronimo. Today a U.S. Army Air Defense Center and combat training for allied nations.
• AIR DEFENSE AND ARTILLERY MUSEUM - In building 3000, Pleasant Road near Robert E. Lee Road is the U.S. Army Air Defense and Artillery Museum, the only one of its kind in the country, with hands on displays and dioramas about the history of air defense.
• FORT BLISS MUSEUM - Replica of original adobe fort maintained as a museum of frontier military era; Pleasonton Road and Sheridan Drive.
• MUSEUM OF THE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER - Traces the history of the U.S. NCO corps with artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War. Biggs Army Airfield, Bldg. 11331.
• 3RD ARMORED CAVALRY MUSEUM - In Building 2407, Forest Road., is the 3rd Cavalry Museum, the "Regiment of Mounted Rifles" that fought in the Mexican War and Indian campaigns.
• HUECO TANKS STATE PARK - Precious water from infrequent rains "stored" in natural rock basins; for centuries a strategic travel stop in this air region. Ancient Indian pictographs, plus names of the 49ers on the way to California. Picnicking, hiking, climbing, and camping. Off U.S. 62/180 26 miles east of El Paso.
• INSIGHTS - EL PASO SCIENCE CENTER - Features educational, hands-on exhibits about science and technology; solar power, motion, light illumination, electricity, space science, computers, energy, and the human body. All exhibits designed to make learning about science and technology an active experience. 505 N. Santa Fe Street.
• MAGOLFFIN HOME STATE HISTORIC STRUCTURE - Guided tours of homestead built in 1875 as a replica of earlier home destroyed in 1868 flood. Was the political and social center of Magoffinsville community (later named El Paso). The walls average 2 1/2 feet thick; timber cut in Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico, 80 miles from El Paso. Traditional enclosed patio; much original furniture. 1120 Magoffin Street.
• OLD MISSIONS - El Paso's Lower Valley is the site of several graceful old Spanish missions that are older than the better known missions of California.
• NUESTRA SEMORA DEL CARMEN - Established in 1681, and later dedicated Corpus Christi de la Isleta, 1690; damaged by both floods and fires, but restored and maintained in the original style and now familiarly called Ysleta Mission. The oldest mission in Texas, established for Tigua Indians. When founded, the mission pueblo was south of the Rio Grande, but has been left on the Texas side by changes in the river channel. Some mission land has been in constant cultivation since 1682, over 300 years. 100 block of Old Pueblo Road. (Zaragosa exit from I-10 east).
• NUESTRA SENORA DE LA CONCEPCIOIN DEL SOCORRO - Established in 1682 as a mission for Piros, Thanos, and Jemes Indians. Originally located about 12 leagues from the Guadlupe Mission at Paso del Norte and about 7.5 leagues from Ysleta. However, when a group of Indians threatened to revolt, the mission moved to a new location bout one league from Isleta Mission. Early 19th Century flood changed course of the Rio Grande and left the village and mission on the Texas side. Present village of Socorro adjacent to the southeast El Paso. F.M. 258 South.


Village of San Elizarioi served as El Paso County seat for years and was the location of a presido (fort) to serve Spanish military garrison and government. Still in daily use, the chapel stands as built 200 years ago, preserving a type of architecture that supplanted the more austere styles of Ysleta and Socorro missions. F.M. 258 south.

• MISSION TOUR - Hop aboard the "Trolley on a Mission" for mission tours. Visit Mission Ysleta, Yslta del Sur Pueblo, Socrro, and San Elzario. 4 1/2 hour tour includes lunch at Tigua Indian Reservation or Old Adobe Horseshoe, as well as shopping.
• SCENIC DRIVES - Scenic drives trace a winding course on the southern flank of Mount Franklin above downtown El Paso, with a view of Juarez across the river. Reached from Richmond Street on the east, from Rim Road on the West.


El Paso is "V" shaped, divided by imposing steeps of Franklin Mountains. Connecting top ends of the "V" is loop 375 (Transmountain Road) that climbs through mile high Smugglers Gap with impressive views of rugged mountain desert scenery. Accessible from I-10 northwest of city and form U.S. 54 northeast.

• SIERRA DE CRISTO REY - The Mountain of Christ the King looms above El Paso at the point where territories of Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico meet. Prominent on the 4,576 foot summit is a massive monument of Christ on the Cross by artist Uribici Soler, built of Cordova cream limestone quarried near Austin. Not recommended to climb except during the pilgrimage the last Sunday in October.
• TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION; YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO - Oldest community in present boundaries of Texas, now a part of the city of El Paso, was established in 2681 by refugees from a bloody Indian uprising that expelled the Spanish and Christian Indians form present New Mexico. Spanish missionaries and loyal Tigua Indians settled here at El Paso del Norte and built Isleta Mission. The mission church is still the religious focal point of the Tigua Indian community. today the Tiguas offers a fascinating visitor program and arts and crafts center in their extensive adobe complex, which has been reconstructed in traditional pueblos style. The museum and restaurant are open daily.
• SPEAKING ROCK BINGO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER - Handsome bingo facility by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. Session daily, except Monda. Three levels of play; jackpots vary. State of the art equipment with electronic display boards. Next to Isleta Mission on Tigua Indian Reservation.
• VIVA EL PASO! - Outdoor drama that captures and heritage of the Southwest. Spectacular Franklin Mountains serve as a backdrop at open-air McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater. Traces El Paso'[s history through four eras of Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and Western.
• WESTERN PLAYLAND - 25 acre amusement park with dozens of rides, including the Splashdown Log Ride and El Bandito Roller Coaster. Games, shops, and foods.
• On landscaped grounds adjacent to lake in Ascarte Park, 6 miles east of the city off I-10. Trowbridge Exit, south to Delta Road.
• WILDERNESS PARK MUSEUM - Dioramas depict ancient Indian tribes of the Southwest, their survival in the desert, and adaptation to changing civilization. Also interpretation of Hueco Tanks as a cultural site. 200 Transmountain Road (Loop 375).
• ZOO - Birds and reptiles are exhibited in beautiful botanical environment. Known for exotic reptile and colorful primate collections. Evergreen and Paisoano Streets (across from county coliseum).

MERCHANTS

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This file was last modified Thursday, 12-Oct-95 01:36:09