Neighborhoods and Shared Memories at the El Paso Museum of History

The El Paso Museum of History is holding a wonderful exhibit on the historic neighborhoods of their city.

From their website:  "The Neighborhoods and Shared Memories exhibit is composed of cherished photographs, special mementos and keepsakes from past and present residents of Chihuahuita and El Segundo Barrio. Every two years, the exhibit will feature a new set of neighborhoods. The Neighborhoods exhibit seeks to preserve, interpret, and increase an appreciation for neighborhood-based history."

Videos, oral histories and artifacts provide a peek at the strong communities in place in the city's neighborhoods.  The exhibit asks for memories to be added, see below:

 This exhibit, as well as general admission to the museum is free.  Some special exhibits may require a fee for entry.  Hours are below:

Regular Hours
	Tues–Sat 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
	Thurs 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
	Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
	Closed Mondays and major holidays

The Museum's listing on our Texas Mountain Trail website, along with information on a special event taking place there on October 19th!

Pretty Downtown El Paso

Flowers at Cleveland Square Park
outside the Museum of History

 

Decorative fences at the Museum of History
recall the flora and fauna of our region

El Paso Museum of Art

Outside the Museum of Art

Be a Part of El Paso History!!

Downtown El Paso (Plaza in center back) around 1890s
Photo: Collection of the El Paso County Historical Society

Event: El Paso History Summit.
When: March 16, 2013
Time: Noon to 6 p.m.
Where: 1340 Murchison
Scenic View Ballroom of the First Presbyterian Church (near Brown St.) This free event is open to the public and is hosted by the El Paso History Radio Show, El Paso County Historical Commission, El Paso Mission Trail Association, and El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Association (CARTA). The El Paso History Summit is an opportunity for El Pasoans to help define what El Paso history is and how it should be preserved. Event organizers will use participants’ feedback to better promote heritage tourism for the Paso del Norte region.

Bring up to 10 photos that are at least 25 years old and have all persons identified, if possible, as well as the date and place. Photos are to be scanned onsite and returned back to the owners. The goal is to include all these photos on the interactive Digital Wall that will be installed at the El Paso Museum of History.

The summit will also kick off the “I Am El Paso” campaign, where the public can video record a 1-2 minute message that identifies themselves to the El Paso area. There will be a Town Hall meeting on El Paso history with special invited guests state Senator Jose Rodriguez and El Paso County Historical Commission chairman, Bernie Sargent. The Town Hall will be moderated by hosts of "The El Paso History Radio Show," Jackson Polk and Melissa Sargent.

Other events include screenings of local documentaries, such as, “El Paso’s Mission Trails” and the world premiere of segments from Capstone Productions’ latest documentary, "The Last Tour of theEl Paso Smelter." After three years of filming the demolition of the former Asarco site, the first installment of the El Paso Smelter documentary series covers the history and construction of one of the world’s tallest smokestacks.

Be a part of the first El Paso History Summit by sharing your history of El Paso with the community and help promote our diverse cultural identity. There will also be giveaways and other door prizes throughout the day.

Visiting El Paso's beautiful downtown!

El Paso's Museum of Art is hosting Rembrandt, Rubens, and Golden Age of Painting in Europe 1600-1800 from the Speed Art Museum and From Church To Village: 16th and 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Paintings

Enjoying the garden at the Museum of History

Downtown El Paso packs a whallop of surprises in cultural offerings, all within walking distance of each other.  Consider the museums alone...park your car and walk to each one!

El Paso Museum of Art
El Paso Museum of History
Insights Science Center
El Paso Holocaust Museum
Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso
Lynx Exhibits



Not to mention the historic Plaza Theatre, next to the Museum of Art!

Oasis Bistro outside the historic Plaza Theatre

Our Texas Mountain Trail Executive Director, Beth Nobles, is also a Grassroots Ambassador for Stonewear Designs, a clothing company specializing in women's active wear  which she'll be testing on her adventures throughout Far West Texas.  For more information, visit Nobles' blog for newcomers to fitness, "One Foot in Front of the Other."

A gracious way to travel...step off the train...and the best of the city is steps away

One of the loveliest and gracious ways to travel to the region is by train, through El Paso's Union Station.  Built in 1905 and renovated in 1982 (and on the National Register of Historic Places), the station was the first passenger station built in the United States specifically for international travel.  The county's website outlines the renovation work that was done to bring the station back to its original glory:

"The original tile floor was installed, the white paint on the outside bricks was removed, most of the original woodwork was preserved as much as possible, marble was imported from Italy to replace the damaged marble on the inside columns, and the tower and steeple were restored to their former place on top of the Depot."  To read more, click here.

Today, Amtrak's Sunset Limited runs through our region on its route from New Orleans to Los Angeles.  El Paso is a fully supported stop (meaning you can check luggage and bicycles!) on the route, and one of two stops in our region.  (Alpine is the second.)  Within walking distance is one of the hotels participating in our Texas Mountain Trail cycle-friendly program is the Holiday Inn Central El Paso.

The station is centered in the historic downtown, near the city's museum campus.  Consider visiting the city's Museum of History and Museum of Art.  Or the Insights Science Museum, or the Lynx Exhibits.  Since you've arrived by train, there's a place of special interest, El Paso's Railroad and Transportation Museum!

Cool Places on Hot Days! El Paso's Downtown Museum Campus

El Paso Museum of History, from Santa Fe Street, Downtown El Paso

El Paso has many great museums, many of them within blocks of each other in the downtown area.

Visitor Information Center, run by the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau (on Santa Fe Street)

El Paso Museum of Art (also on Santa Fe Street, right downtown!)

If you have questions about where the museums are located, check out the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors Center, One Civic Center Plaza, along Santa Fe Street, right downtown!

New Cycle-Friendly Hotel in the CENTER of things!

 El Paso is our gateway city, our urban center, and a place of surprising charms.  It is also on Adventure Cycling Association's Southern Tier Route, and sees many cross-country cyclists as they travel coast to coast from California to Florida.

Downtown El Paso has a surprising number of museums (Museum of Art, Museum of History, Holocaust Museum and Study Center, Insights Science Museum, Railroad and Transportation Museum, and the Lynx Exhibits, not to mention the historic Plaza Theatre, and the Visitor Center at the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.  There's plenty to see and to there.

And now, a downtown hotel has joined our growing list of cycle-friendly properties, happy to provide special services to all their guests, but especially those on bicycles:. 

Holiday Inn Express-Central, 400 E. Missouri, El Paso, TX 79901 Phone 915-544-3333, Fax 915-533-4109,  http://hiexpress.com/elpasocentral
Cycle friendly features include: In-room storage for bikes, deluxe express start breakfast buffet, outdoor heated pool, 24 hr fitness center, on site laundry facility and dry cleaning services, business center, free high speed internet, located in the heart of downtown El Paso near bike routes. And for cyclists combining train travel with your journey, the property is near the Amtrak station too!

Whether you're planning a trip cross-country by bike, or just enjoying our gateway city, consider the friendly folks at the Holiday Inn Express-Central!  (Lots of space for your bike in that room!)

For regional cycling adventures, check out our webpage:  www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike !!

Mexican Revolution historical walking tour in El Paso, part 2!

Here's another stop on the Mexican Revolution tour of El Paso from the El Paso Times....just down the street from yesterday's entry.  This beautiful building is located at 301 S. El Paso Street, and was the location for the Shelton-Payne Arms Company and the Charles Hotel.  According to the paper, "The Shelton-Payne Arms Company supplied arms and ammunition to all factions. Archival records show that the company had assets exceeding $1.1 million dollars in 1913. The Merrick Building, which housed the company, was constructed in 1887."

Be sure to click through to the El Paso Times' special section on the Mexican Revolution...to hear an audio clip with more information about this important historical site.While in El Paso, don't miss the Museum of History's terrific exhibit on the city's role in the revolution.

Mexican Revolution historical walking tour of El Paso!

The El Paso Times recently published a special section on that city's role in the Mexican Revolution, and it is a fascinating history you can continue to experience, since many of the locations are still intact.  We took part of the walking tour they published.  Pictured here is the Alhambra Theatre building at 209 S. El Paso Street.  Quoting the paper:  "This theater was constructed by Rodolfo and Manuel Cruz in 1914 for $150,000 to cater to the affluent Mexican exile community that relocated here during the revolution, as well as Anglo-American audiences. It featured vaudeville specialties and motion pictures. The Alhambra was designed by Henry Trost in a Spanish Moorish architectural style."

Click here to see the special section of the El Paso Times online.

Click here to read about a special exhibit about the Mexican Revolution at the El Paso Museum of History, on display now.

DaVinci Exhibit in El Paso

The El Paso Museum of History is the current stop for The Da Vinci Experience, an exhibit like no other. The exhibit is available through the Museum of Leonardo Da Vinci in Florence, Italy. It consists of more than 60 machines described and designed by Leonardo Da Vinci as well as replicas of his paintings; most notably the Mona Lisa. The exhibit will take over the entire first floor of the Museum. It is displayed in four principle galleries focusing on the topics of transportation, military, mechanical devices, and an art gallery.

See it now, through July 10!

Da Vinci in El Paso!

The El Paso Museum of History is hosting The Da Vinci Experience, an exhibit available through the Museum of Leonardo Da Vinci in Florence, Italy. It consists of more than 60 machines described and designed by Leonardo Da Vinci as well as replicas of his paintings; most notably the Mona Lisa. The exhibit will take over the entire first floor of the Museum through July 10, 2010. It is displayed in four principle galleries focusing on the topics of transportation, military, mechanical devices, and an art gallery.


You can read more about this very special exhibit here.

The DaVinci Experience

The El Paso Museum of History is hosting The Da Vinci Experience, an exhibit available through the Museum of Leonardo Da Vinci in Florence, Italy. It consists of more than 60 machines described and designed by Leonardo Da Vinci as well as replicas of his paintings; most notably the Mona Lisa. The exhibit will take over the entire first floor of the Museum through July 10, 2010. It is displayed in four principle galleries focusing on the topics of transportation, military, mechanical devices, and an art gallery.

You can read more about this very special exhibit here.