THE PASS
A collision of geography and history created one of the most important settlements in the southwest along a northward passage from Mexico known as El Paso del Norte. Here, two mountain ranges rise out of the desert separated by a deep chasm and the Rio Grande River. After several centuries of settlement and colonization along the pass, two communities arose, one on each side of the river. To the south lay Juarez and to the north El Paso, a community that, after statehood, became the westernmost tip of Texas. Today, El Paso continues to serve as an important community with cross-national and multi-state relationships, bridging the gap between Mexico, the U.S., New Mexico, and Texas. As a foreign trade zone, El Paso offers a unique business opportunity that reaches far into Central and South American resources. It’s a cultural crossroads as well, providing fertile ground for a bi-national heritage that continues to evolve. Museums like the El Paso Museum of Fine Art, the Magoffin Home State Historic Site, UTEP – a campus of the University of Texas system, and Fort Bliss – a thriving military base, join hotels, restaurants, music venues, and taverns to create a thriving metropolitan area, considered one of the largest along the country’s bi-national border.
El Paso boasts a state cultural district designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Explore all they have to offer on your next visit!
Related
![Emma Tenayuca on the steps of San Antonio City Hall during a public demonstration.](https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-Historic/a_strike_and_an_uprising_emmafist.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=e203e5bc6e3895bde2cacf966c3c4858 320w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-Historic/a_strike_and_an_uprising_emmafist.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=954e70c0bbfe86a4f8f5446b2f119bf4 540w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-Historic/a_strike_and_an_uprising_emmafist.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=adc25f26100c0a277ea009bf25b8f6f9 628w)
Brazos Trail Region
Explore the Sites and Stories of Remarkable Texas Women
In honor of Women's History Month, we're celebrating the inspiring stories of remarkable Texas women who shaped our state's rich…
![](https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=8d389b6f393ae02426237b8b0d69340a 320w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=ca6e4811f045dd2bbbce5200ea0c411c 540w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=a492f1c0ae4aa149105ce0a4be3a2050 768w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1024&q=80&w=1024&s=ced0583ce1c3e47e3c73aa011056c689 1024w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=80&w=1200&s=c620e90d8d54a1d4242a2685fecc3e7d 1200w, https://texas-time-travel.imgix.net/images/A-Regional-Photos/THC-General/WOB_TXIndependenceDay2020_016.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1440&s=a33f21b4db601d1fc5b51a084a63c6c0 1440w)
Forest Trail Region
10 Practical Tips for Enjoying Texas’ History, Heritage, and Culture with Children
Embarking on a family adventure to explore Texas is an exciting opportunity to immerse your children in the rich history…