Explore Downtown El Paso

El Paso’s downtown is unique. Historic sites from the heyday of gunmen and shady ladies are marked with official plaques (there are two in the patio of the Camino Real, off the Azulejos restaurant). Many buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including a number designed by famed Southwestern architect Henry C. Trost (1860 -1933). (Walking Tour brochures will be available at the registration table.)

Across El Paso Street to the east is a monumental statue to Fray Garcia de San Francisco, who, in 1662, inaugurated the first mission in the area, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in what is now Cd. Juarez, Mexico.

San Jacinto Plaza, a block east and north of the Camino Real, is the center of downtown life. The Plaza features a statue entitled Los Lagartos, by Luis Jimenez, commemorating the live alligators which for many years had their own pond here. The benches on the Plaza provide the opportunity to pause and watch the colorful world of the Border pass by.

Three blocks up Oregon Street is the El Paso Public Library, the oldest public library in Texas, known for its strong Border Heritage Collection. Special exhibits will be featured. West of the library a new 48,000 foot addition, and beyond that a new building for the El Paso Museum of History.

Directly across the street from the Camino Real is the El Paso Museum of Art. One of the most vital institutions in El Paso, its holdings include the Kress Collection of European art, the Tom Lea Collection, and a collection of contemporary works by Southwestern artists. A larger-than-life-sized statue of a cowboy by Luis Jimenez stands in front of the entrance.

Next to the Art Museum is the Plaza Theater, a 2100-seat theater opened in 1932 which is one of only a few remaining “atmospheric” theaters anywhere in the country. The interior is decorated in Moorish style, with stars twinkling in the painted sky, and clouds moving across. Now under restoration, the Plaza’s stage is being expanded to accommodate live shows.

One block to the west, across Santa Fe Street, is the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center. The Convention Center housed Katrina evacuees for a short time last fall.

If all this history and culture is too much, you may want to try some discount shopping along South El Paso, Mesa, and Stanton streets. This area serves shoppers from both sides of the border, and the further south one walks the more the streets and shops resemble those on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. Bargains in name brand clothing and other items can be found!

The downtown area is served by a network of gaily-painted rubber-tired trollies, fare a modest $.25. Schedules will be available at the registration table.

Crossing the Border to Cd. Juárez

Visiting Mexico can be done easily, whether for dining or for shopping. From the Camino Real, it is 8 blocks to the Santa Fe Street Bridge, which crosses to Avenida Juárez, where restaurants, bars, and street shopping are available.

Walking: Good walkers will find that walking across is the simplest way to visit.

Taxis: Cabs are available on both sides of the border, and can be taken to the bridge on either side. Using a cab to cross the bridge, however, can be very expensive.

Private Automobile: Driving across is also an option. Just remember that traffic is very heavy, parking is difficult to find, you should have insurance coverage that is good in Mexico, and – above all – avoid accidents. Under Mexican law, your car can be confiscated after an accident, even if you were not at fault.

Trolley: The Border Jumper operated by the El Paso-Juárez Trolley Company leaves the Convention Center Plaza every hour between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, traveling east to the Bridge of the Americas where it crosses into Mexico, then loops along Avenida Lincoln and 16 de Septiembre to Avenida Juárez and back to downtown El Paso. There are a number of stops along this route where one can jump off and on. Not to be missed for shopping is the City Market located on 16 de Septiembre. Fare currently is $12.50 round trip per person.

NOTE: U.S. citizens must present a picture ID in order to return to the U.S. Citizens of other countries must have the correct visa for entering Mexico or returning to the U.S. If in doubt, check with the Mexican Consulate in El Paso.