Trip Ideas
History & Culture
Long before El Paso was El Paso, our desert home was known by a different name. Spanish explorers first lent the name El Paso del Norte to the combined areas we now identify individually as El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
From that former name, to the influence of pachuco’s zoot-suiting around “El Chuco,” or to the familiar landscape and infamous heat rooting the idea of the Sun City—whichever way you choose to reference it, the name, the land and the sites all possess a piece of history waiting to be discovered.
Some of the most well-known facts that are shared among El Pasoans revolve around the alligators that once roamed around San Jacinto Plaza. Perhaps you’re aware of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa’s visits to the tip of Texas or how the very first high-rise Hilton Hotel, now known as The Plaza, was first built here. But, did you know that in 1902 there were 86 saloons in El Paso and one of the most notable, The Coney Island Saloon, was where Mannen Clements, cousin of gun-slinger John Wesley Hardin, was fatally shot in one of the last Old-West-style gunfights.
Wherever you find yourself in El Paso, you are living some part of the past. Take a step back in time with us as we travel to some popular places that make El Paso’s history special.
Attracting thousands of travelers daily, the El Paso Union Passenger Station, or the Union Depot, was a place of hustle and bustle connecting the world for the past 100 years. Opening its doors in 1906, the neo-classical design came from architect Daniel H. Burnham of Chicago and contractor Frank Powers of El Paso. Among its contributions to the growth in El Paso, the Union Depot was also the first international train station and it helped with trade between the United States and Mexico.
Henry Trost and his architecture firm, Trost and Trost, is responsible for many of the buildings in Downtown El Paso. After moving here in the early 1900s, Trost and his younger brother garnered huge success and built El Paso’s first skyscrapers. Among his many buildings are the first ever Hilton hotel, known as The Plaza Hotel, and the White House Department Store. Download the Visit El Paso app to take a self-guided walking tour of the remarkable 10 buildings.
For visitors, locals, and history buffs alike, these five sites are great options to discover. Take on a tour, dig up the past and embrace old El Paso.
The Lhakang is open from 11a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and first Saturday of the Month. The exhibit is overseen by the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Parking is available at the Centennial Museum parking lot. Open 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and first Saturday of the Month.
Buffalo Soldier Memorial
Some of the most historical war veterans buried in Concordia are Buffalo Soldiers, members of four regiments of African American soldiers who served on the frontier after the end of the Civil War. The remains of over forty Buffalo Soldiers are known to be buried at Concordia, resulting in the establishment of the cemetery’s Buffalo Soldier Memorial, a handsome dedication of bronze plaques, granite memorial markers, and native stone that commemorate the military service of these unique individuals and the contribution the Buffalo Soldier regiments made to the history of Texas.
A unit of the National Park Service, the Chamizal National Memorial commemorates the 1963 Chamizal treaty that ended a century-old boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico caused by a change in the course of the Rio Grande. The memorial includes a museum, theatre and art galleries, and hosts many festivals and special events throughout the year. Admission is free.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM
Chamizal National Memorial Trail
A 1.5-mile trail loop around the Chamizal National Memorial. An easy route taking about a half an hour to complete. Perfect for an afternoon stroll or jog. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Downtown Walking Tour
This self-guided walking tour (about 90 minutes) begins in the southwest corner of San Jacinto Plaza, at the 1910 E. Howard post clock. The tour takes you on a stroll to historic architectural landmarks and sites, some noted with historical markers. Download the Visit El Paso App for the audio version of this tour.
The El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center was established to educate the public about the Nazi Holocaust, and to honor those who perished and those who survived. The museum houses exhibits that trace the rise of the Third Reich, the mass deportations of millions of German and European citizens to ghettos and concentration camps, their valiant resistance efforts, and the liberation of the camps by Allied Forces in the closing days of World War II. Admission is free.
Hours of Operation
Sun: Closed Mon: Closed Tue: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wed: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sat: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The two mission churches of Ysleta and Socorro stand as the oldest working missions in the region. In addition, the chapel of San Elizario, also located along the mission trail is known as an enduring symbol of the more than 400 years of rich history in the area.
Visitors looking for one-stop information spot should visit the Mission Valley Visitor Center. This historic building provides free Wi-Fi, ATM’s, restrooms, Mission Trail information, and a SunMetro transfer location. The center’s staff is knowledgeable and friendly so don’t hesitate to ask for directions or any questions pertaining to the Mission Trail area. The Mission Valley Visitor Center will provide you with everything you need to know for your Mission Trail visit. Restrooms available.
Dating back to the 1800’s and known as one of the deadliest gunmen in the West, the infamous Billy the Kid became famous for being the only man ever to break into a jail. Legend says jail guards found themselves face to face with Billy’s 44 revolver just before he quickly retrieved the guard’s guns, helped his friend break out, put the guards in the jail and threw away the key. This place will certainly have you saying ͞hold on let me Instagram this.”
Hours of Operation
Sun: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Mon: Closed Tue: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wed: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thu: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Fri: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center exists as a facility for cultural enrichment, as well as a collective site for centuries of tribal history. It aims to educate individuals about the culture and history of the oldest federally recognized tribe in Texas by providing information and interactive experiences that are unique to the area.
The Cultural Center exhibits the tribe’s heritage through dance, programs and other activities such as pottery making, bead looming, bread baking, storytelling, and gardening for Tribal Members ONLY. The center also provides retail space for tribal members to sell authentic Tigua attire and artifacts. The museum displays objects such as artifacts, pottery, photographs, and video representing over 300 years of Tigua History. The museum attracts a wide array of visitors from across the United States and the international community.
Hours of Operation: Monday - Sunday 8 AM - 5 PM
Created in 1936, the Centennial was the first museum in El Paso and one of the earliest buildings at the College of Mines, now UTEP. Permanent exhibits focus on the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America. Temporary exhibits are generally related to border life and culture, or more broadly to the Americas. The extensive Gardens display native plants in a variety of settings.
Hours of Operation
Sun: Closed
Mon: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tue: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wed: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thu: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk.
The museum’s grounds include 15 acres of nature trails, outdoor exhibits and desert garden with various native Chihuahuan desert plants. The trails leading from the Museum are well marked and maintained, with some leading into the canyons of the East Franklin Mountains. For bird enthusiasts you may see doves, gambols and scaled quail, verdin, canyon wren, various sparrows, horned larks, turkey vultures and perhaps golden eagles.
Hours of Operation
Sun: Closed
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) houses a permanent collection of over 7,000 works of art from the Byzantine era to the present. Among the collection’s strengths in American, Mexican, and European art are Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces from the likes of Botticelli, Canaletto, and Van Dyck, as well as 20th century works by notable natives like Tom Lea. In addition, the museum hosts a robust schedule of temporary exhibitions. The museum school also offers diverse classes, hands-on workshops, and popular camps for adults and children alike.
Hours of Operation
Sun: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thu: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
The El Paso Museum of History (EPMH) offers visitors a bilingual, multi-cultural experience through exhibitions that focus on the history of El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North). The permanent and rotating exhibitions in the museum’s six galleries feature history beginning from pre-Spanish contact to present. Through exhibitions and educational programming, EPMH involves diverse audiences in exploring the varieties of human experience and encourages individuals to explore the past by reflecting on their own place in history.
Hours of Operation
Sun: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thu: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Together with the African and Western galleries, the Kolliker and the Mexican Revolution galleries, the Red Room Gallery makes up the permanent collection at the International Museum of Art of El Paso. The Red Room is devoted to contemporary local art and presents a selection of paintings and drawings by top artists from El Paso and the Southwest. Occupying the lower floor of the museum with a showcase of diverse artistic media and themes, the gallery is a great place to start your exploration of local art. Among the artists to see here are muralist Ernesto Martinez and beloved local mixed media artist Lawrence Benjamin Porter.
Hours of Operation
Sun: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: Closed
Thu: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Fri: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sat: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The museum is housed in an 1850s Territorial Style building in El Paso’s Mission Valley. Its exhibits focus on the rich and colorful historical legacies of San Elizario, including the “First Thanksgiving,” the Spanish presidio, the San Elizario Salt War of 1877, and the first county seat of El Paso county. Admission is free.
Hours of Operation
Sun: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Mon: Closed
Tue: 11:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wed: 11:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thu: 11:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
A striking adobe structure, Magoffin Home State Historic Site explores the stories of a multicultural family who actively participated in U.S. expansion and settlement, military service, trade on the Santa Fe–Chihuahua Trail, Civil War turmoil, and U.S.–Mexico relations. Built in 1875 for pioneer, politician, and civic leader Joseph Magoffin, the nineteen-room adobe home containing original family furnishings is El Paso’s only historic house museum and a prime example of Territorial style architecture.
Hours of Operation
Sun: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Mon: Closed
Tue: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wed: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thu: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fri: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM