A group of prominent businessmen including <a href="https://www.theclio.com/entry/85333" target="_blank">O.T. Bassett</a>, <a href="https://www.theclio.com/entry/24723" target="_blank">Joseph Magoffin</a>, and <a href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fmobn" target="_blank">C.R. Morehead</a> founded State National Bank in 1881. These men were instrumental in laying the foundation on which El Paso stands today (Bassett owned a lumber mill and served as city councilman; Magoffin served as mayor for four terms and held other civic positions; and Morehead also served as mayor). The bank earned a good reputation; however, it did not expand until new bankers, including Bassett's son, Charles, assumed control around the turn-of-the century. They hired Trost to draft plans for the current structure in 1920 and construction began the next year. It officially opened in June 1922. It was expanded in the 1940s. At some point by the 1980s, it became the location of a home mortgage company, which restored the old building. Today, it is home to a store called Rio Grande Fashion.

The old State National Bank building was erected in 1922 and continues to symbolize the city's rapid growth during the early 20th century.

"State National Bank." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. 

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The former State National Bank building is both significant for its architecture and the role it played in El Paso's economic development during the early 20th century. Notable local architect Henry C. Trost designed the bank in the Second Renaissance Revival style and the building is an excellent example of that style. Constructed in 1922, the building features two-story arched windows, classical molding details, and decorative elements such as cartouches and floral motifs. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 

State National Bank

This short walk through downtown El Paso includes a baker's dozen of landmarks, museums, and other historical landmarks beginning at Union Depot which was constructed in 1905. The tour winds its way east to landmark downtown buildings such as Hotel Paso Del Norte and Plaza Theatre and includes the El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Museum of History. This tour includes only a handful of the landmarks, markers, and museums in El Paso on Clio. Be sure to also consider visiting several of the historic missions, cultural centers, and museums beyond the center of downtown covered by this short walking tour.

Downtown El Paso Walking Tour

Before the depot was built, several railroads operated in El Paso. The Southern Pacific arrived in 1881 and others soon followed. The railroads transformed El Paso from a small town to a thriving economic center. The population was approximately 700-1,000 in 1880 then grew to over 10,000 in 1890. Each railroad had its own station, which made it somewhat difficult for passengers to switch trains. Local businesses preferred this situation because, they believed, it allowed passengers to go shopping. By the late 1890s, it was clear that one central station was needed. The Union Depot Company was established in 1901 and submitted a formal proposal to the city to build the depot. Construction began in 1903 and was finished in 1905.The depot, which had a restaurant on the second floor, remained busy for several decades through the early 1940s. It also attracted other businesses to El Paso including hotels, restaurants, warehouses, and rooming houses. The depot also facilitated trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Many prominent figures of the day used the depot including Elvis Presley, presidents, celebrities, and artists.As people started to use cars and airplanes to travel, passenger traffic at the depot started to decline after World War II (this was a common trend throughout the country). The Union Depot Company finally ended operations in 1974. By this time, however, Amtrak had started using the station under lease and continued to do so with the new local transit authority, Sun Metro. The depot was renovated in the early part of the 1980s. Today, Amtrak still used the depot; from here, passengers can go to Los Angeles, San Antonio, or New Orleans.

Union Depot is a historic train station erected in 1905 by the El Paso Union Passenger Depot Company, which was established in 1903. The depot was the first train station in the country built specifically for international travel and trade. Architect Daniel Burnham, who designed Union Station in Washington D.C., designed the depot in the Neo-Classical style. The red-brick building features a six-story bell tower with arched openings and a large waiting room. More than its architecture, the depot symbolizes how crucial railroads were for El Paso during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places April 3, 1975.      

Union Depot

The Breese, Kneeland &amp; Company built Locomotive No. 1 using a design—which came to be known as an "Classic American" design—patented in 1836 by Henry Roe Campbell. It was first called No. 73 (this number still appears on it) and served the Milwaukee &amp; Mississippi Railroad Company (which became the Milwaukee &amp; Prairie du Chien Railway Company) for around thirty years in the upper Midwest region. The El Paso and Southwestern Railroad acquired it in 1889 and it served the company for over fifty years. At that point the company put on display at a park in 1909. In 1960, the University of Texas bought it and put it on display at the Centennial Museum. During the next several decades, Locomotive No. 1 deteriorated rapidly and was in need of serious repairs by the 1990s. Restoration was completed in 2003 and it was moved to Union Plaza.

Located inside the Union Plaza Transit Terminal is the historic Locomotive No. One, which was built in 1857. It is one of the oldest trains of the steam railroading era. The Breese, Kneeland & Company of Jersey City built it for the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company. There is a small visitor center with exhibits where people can view the locomotive and learn more information about it as well as the history of railroading in the West.

El Paso & Southwestern Railroad Locomotive Number One

The El Paso
Exploreum utilizes and innovative Explorer’s advisory board of children from
7-17 that guide the decision-making concerning upcoming exhibits. The facility
uses trained docents to lead tours of the facility for schools, family groups,
and others throughout the day. The docents not only explain the various
exhibits, they share strategies on how the visitors can best use their time in
the facility, and provide demonstrations and lessons during the tour to
participants as well. The focus on STEM subjects is promoted throughout the
programs, and the Exploreum also is involved in judging Science fairs, attending
career days at associated schools, and even making in-school presentations when
requested and coordinated.

Annually, the
Exploreum is involved with programs and events like Kids’ Palooza, Dia de los
Ninos, and Race for the Cure. 

Annual programs
like Summer and Spring Break camps give parents and children the opportunity to
learn, without realizing they are being taught. Learning to love the learning
process, the programs are always fresh and new every year.

El Paso
Exploreum resides in a14,000 square feet space, and offer more than 60
interactive exhibits. Rather than rotate exhibits every four months, the
Exploreum maintains the same exhibits and adds more cool stuff every 2-4
months. Current exhibits include:

&nbsp;Old
El Paso

The first room
visitors will encounter is a role play area, emulating El Paso in the early
1880s. This area is complete with a general store (and OLD products), a
schoolhouse, a bank, a horse corral, a toddler area, and the much requested
jail. Children are encouraged to just play in this area while experiencing the
old west.

CableWorld

One of the newest
exhibitions is located in the entrance of the High Tech Hot Spot room and was
created by Time Warner Cable. &nbsp;

High Tech Hot Spot

With heavy
emphasis on technology and science, this room offers different magnetic
experiences, multiple types of sensory sands, interactive floors and tables,
and more. 

&nbsp;STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art, and Math)

The STEAM room
focuses heavily on popular areas of learning and required standards in the
schools….all while being fun! Kids will examine, explore, and attempt things
with their own hands. This room houses our sound studio, news studio,
earthquake table, and best of all, WATER!

Inspiration Station

This exhibit encourages
new ideas and creativity. There are sewing table, coloring tables, a painting
with water station, multiple construction items, and circuits for children to
figure out… all without directions! Often, adults’ way of doing things or
simple directions hamper a child’s ability to think freely and create.

Airport Adventure

The airport is
adjacent to Inspiration Station and is full of real-live airplane stuff! &nbsp;Kids can have fun airplane teeter-tots, a
hand-crank conveyor belt, luggage, and an airplane midsection complete with
seats, emergency doors, and overhead bins. In this section, they can experience
air travel and dive into the world of busy airports!

Shuttle to the Stars

Created by a
13-year-old boy trying to make a difference in the community, this exhibit features
an interactive shuttle that rumbles and roars, highlighting the planetary
orbits above.

The Science of Bowling

This area
explores the science of bowling opened in conjunction with the USBC Open
Championships. While they hold the national competition across the street, we
will host interactive fun, bowling games, in-house carpet lanes, and
informational displays.

El Paso Exploreum is a children’s interactive museum that engages the entire family in creative, unique and hands-on gun. It is the first such museum created for children to learn and explore the basics of STEM (Science, Technology, Electronics and Mathematics) principles. A non-profit organization, the Exploreum operates a series of rotating exhibits that change every few months to keep the experience dynamic and exciting for the visitors. Designed as a flexible exhibit to give El Paso residents an active voice in the development of a permanent children’s museum, the new facility offers a wide variety of interactive exhibits for all ages.

El Paso Exploreum

The idea for the hotel originated with local businessman and land owner Zach T. White, who arrive in El Paso in early 1881. After witnessing the fire that destroyed the Grand Central Hotel in 1892, he decided to build a fireproof hotel. He spent $1.5 million dollars—a huge some at the time—sparing no expense. He even hired Italian artisans to help create the lobby. Numerous prominent figures have stayed at the hotel including General John Pershing, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Vice President Nixon. Additionally, it was here in 1963 that President Lyndon John and Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos (and other officials) attended the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamizal_dispute" target="_blank">Chazimal Convention</a>, which resolved a longs-standing border dispute between the two countries. In 1971, White's daughter sold the hotel to an investment company. Different owners acquired the building during the next few decades. In 1986, a 17-story addition was built. In 2004, the hotel was renamed the Camino Real. Marriot bought it in 2017 and began a process of extensive renovations.

Hotel Paso Del Norte is one of the most recognizable landmarks in El Paso. Erected in 1912 after two years of construction, it was designed by the architect firm Trost & Trost—which designed many other buildings in the city—in a combination of the Chicago and Beaux-Arts styles. The building features an elaborate exterior with many decorative elements including large windows (some of which have arches) and white terra cotta trim. The interior features an elaborate lobby topped with a large, 25-foot diameter Tiffany dome. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, it is now a Marriott hotel.   

Hotel Paso Del Norte

Henry C. Trost, El Paso's foremost architect of the early 20th century, designed the theater, which could be used for live performances and move showings. It also featured a large organ that a musician played during silent movies. Palace Theater is likely Trost's only work in the Spanish Colonial and Moorish Revival styles. The interior features a Moorish theme and includes columns similar to those on the exterior facade. The theater was renamed the Palace Theater in 1920. It continued to operate as a movie theater until the 1980s and was later renovated into a nightclub in the late 1990s. A few nightclubs were located here until the last one, Tricky Falls, closed in 2018.

The former Palace Theater is a historic early 20th-century theater located in downtown El Paso. Originally called the Alhambra Theater, the building features a beautiful, ornate facade that is a combination of the Spanish Colonial and Moorish Revival styles. The facade features arches, columns, and decorative arabesque and Islamic script. The theater was built in 1914. As of September 2019, Abundant Living Faith Center is developing plans to open a downtown campus in the former theater.  

Palace Theater

Both O.T. and Charles Bassett played a large role in developing El Paso. O.T. arrived in El Paso in 1880 with his friend Charles Morehead to buy land for the Texas and Pacific Railroad. The next year, they co-founded the State National Bank. O.T. also established a lumber mill which provided lumber for the growing city. In addition to business, O.T. was also concerned with civic affairs. He helped establish the first school district in 1882 and became president of the school board, and, as mentioned above, he also served as city councilman. Charles Bassett followed in his father's footsteps. He took over the lumber business and became vice president and later, in 1921, president of State National Bank (he would become chairman of the board in 1944). Charles also had business interests in real estate and ranching. He built the tower after a group of El Paso physicians, who owned the property on which it now stands, asked him in 1928 to erect a building there. The next year, Charles decided to that the building would be constructed in his father's honor. After it was completed, the physicians occupied the 6th floor. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1980.

The O. T. Bassett Tower was built in 1930 and is significant as an early example of skyscraper construction in the city and a fine example of Art Deco architecture. It is named after the father of its builder, Charles N. Bassett, who was a prominent El Paso banker. For his part, O.T. Bassett was a lumberman, banker, and served as the city councilman. Architect Henry Trost, of the firm Trost & Trost, designed the building, which stands 15 stories tall (215 feet high). The building features setbacks at the tenth and thirteenth floor; terra cotta, art stone, marble, granite, and geometric decorative elements; stone eagles and gargoyles; and an elaborate main entrance with a portrait bust that is believed to be Trost. The building was converted to a hotel in 2018. 

O. T. Bassett Tower

The hotel is the third to occupy this site. The first was called the Hotel Vendome, which was built early in the city's history. The second was Hotel Orndoff, which was a four-story tall structure. The third hotel is the present one, which was originally called the Hotel Orndorff. In 1927, the Hussman Hotel Company bought it and changed the name to Hussman Hotel. The Hussman Company held a contest in 1935 to choose a new name for the hotel; the winning name was Hotel Cortez. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy spent a night here. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980,

The former Hotel Cortez is one of the more unique buildings in El Paso. Built in 1926, it was designed by prominent local architect firm Trost & Trost in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It features many decorative elements including busts of helmeted conquistadores, a Spanish coat of arms, an elaborate three-story main entrance, and two bracket-supported balconies on the fifth floor. Currently, the building is home to commercial space and offices. 

Hotel Cortez

El Paso voted 871 to 2&nbsp;in favor of&nbsp;secession. At the&nbsp;start of Civil War local&nbsp;Minutemen were organized to provide frontier protection. The San Elizario Spy Company was mustered into Confederate service on July 11, 1861. El Paso was the springboard and supply point for 1861-2 Arizona - New Mexico campaign to give South a Pacific outlet. These troops retired back into Texas and by July 1862, the last Confederate forces left El Paso. Many citizens who favored South went with them, others moved across the river and established a colony in Juarez. In mid-August, Union troops arrived. Martial law was declared and military occupation - longest in any part of Texas - continued until war's end. The number of federal troops occupying El Paso never exceeded 2 or 3 companies. Open pro-southern feeling was squelched during the war. There were recurrent rumors that the Texans were about to return and drive the federals out. Henry Skillman and his band of armed men operated courier service from unoccupied part of state to Confederate colony in Juarez. His men spread invasion rumors and acted as spies, which kept Union forces wary. It took two years before Skillman could be tracked down and killed. Most private property was seized and operated during occupation. Most food and fodder came from Mexican side. Other goods either came down the river from Santa Fe or were manufactured locally. Local elections were watched over by military. El Paso was represented during war in the Texas Legislature by pro-Confederates under a law allowing citizens of occupied areas to vote wherever they resided. This marker was erected by the State of Texas, 1963

This  marker is inscribed with information about El Paso County during and slightly before the Civil War. What follows is directly from the marker and it's inscription. El Paso voted 871 to 2 in favor of secession. At the start of Civil War local Minutemen were organized to provide frontier protection. The San Elizario Spy Company was mustered into Confederate service on July 11, 1861. 


El Paso County Civil War Historical Marker

Jeweler Julius H. Alberts was the last owner of the clock. It is not clear who was the first was but apparently it changed hands a few times before coming into Albert's possession. In 1929, he donated it to the city, which moved moved it around to a few locations downtown over the years. After several decades, the clock was in need of serious repair. A clock company restored it in 2005. The clock still operates today using its original gears. For a long time, beginning in the 1860s, public clocks were common throughout the country. Not only did they tell the time, businesses often used them to advertise themselves. Typically, businesses would buy and install them in front of their building, and paint the business name on the clock. The E. Howard &amp; Company was one of the largest clock manufacturers in the country.

Situated in the southern corner of San Jacinto Plaza is this historic clock manufactured in 1911 by the E. Howard & Company of Boston. The clock is made out of cast iron and features to large circular glass faces and decorative detailing. The clock sits atop a classical-style column and reaches a height of fifteen feet. 

Historic Sidewalk Clock

Since buildings already existed in the block where the Plaza Theatre now stands, Dunne designed the theater to fit the space, which is why it is not possible to see the rest of the building from the main entrance. The Plaza officially opened on September 12, 1930 and was initially meant to be a luxurious vaudeville house, where both vaudeville acts performed and films were shown. At the time of its construction, the theater was equipped with the latest technology available including a large 1,071 pipe-Mighty Wurlitzer Blaban III Organ, which is one of only six in existence (it was removed in the 1970s but reinstalled in 1998).The Plaza remained popular until the 1960s. By that time, drive-in theaters, televisions, and the rise of suburban neighborhoods around El Paso had drawn customers away. As a result, the Plaza started to fall into disrepair. The organ and many other items in the theater were sold at auction in the 1970s. However, a local family bought the building in 1973, saving it from demolition. It reopened in the 1980s but closed again in 1989. Under threat of demolition once more, the El Paso Community Foundation bought it in 1989 and donated it to the city the next year. The Foundation and the city restored the the theater in the early 2000s. It reopened in 2006.

Designed by Dallas-based architect W. Scott Dunne in the Spanish Colonial style, the Plaza Theatre has been one of El-Paso's most popular landmarks since it opened in 1930. It is part of a performing arts center that also features a 200-seat theater. The interior of the main theater, the Kendall Kidd Performance Hall, is what makes the Plaza so popular because it gives patrons the illusion of being outside in a plaza surrounded by buildings. The side walls feature terraces above arched passageways, large plants placed along the walls, tile roofs, and a ceiling that looks like the night sky. The theater also features mosaic tiled floors, intricately painted ceilings, and decorative metal railings, balconies, and light fixtures that reflect the Spanish theme. The Plaza was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Plaza Theatre

The American part of the collection features a wide range of&nbsp;works dating from the Colonial period through the 20th century. The works from&nbsp;Colonial period are mostly portraits; the most famous one is that of George Washington painted&nbsp;by Gilbert Stuart around 1796. The European portion features works from the 13th through the 19th centuries. Artists include&nbsp;Sandro Botticelli,&nbsp;Francisco Zubarán, and&nbsp;&nbsp;Bartolome Esteban Murillo. The Mexican part of the collection is comprised of works from the Spanish Viceroyal period through the pre-revolution beginning with a ca.&nbsp;1660 painting, the Flagellation of Christ by an unknown painter. Artists featured include&nbsp;Diego Rivera&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rufino Tamayo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The El Paso Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of European, Mexican, American and contemporary art. It was founded in 1972 and has the distinction of being the sole museum to have received accreditation from the Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in a 250-mile radius. With around 80,000 visitors per year, the museum is an active institution, not only presenting changing exhibitions but also offering lectures, musical performances, workshops and other programs.

El Paso Museum of Art

One of three museums operated by the city, the museum dates back to the establishment of the&nbsp;Cavalry Museum in 1974. Because the growing city of El Paso did not have a dedicated history museum, this institution moved to serve the larger history of the community and region. The name of the museum was changed in 1980 and residents worked to expand the museum's holdings. Two major turning points occurred when citizens approved bond measures that expanded the role and resources available to the museum. The current facility was made possible by a bond passed in 2000 and the museum's innovative digital exhibits were part of a second bond that included funding for historical and cultural organizations throughout the city.&nbsp; In 2015, the museum opened its high-tech exhibit, known as "DIGIE," the Digital Information Gateway in El Paso. This 35-foot digital wall allows residents and visitors to interact with history and even view videos, images, and oral histories of family members and neighbors. Members of the public can share images and recollections by clicking on the link to DIGIE below.&nbsp;

The El Paso Museum of History was established in 1974. At that time, the museum focused on military history and was known as the Cavalry Museum. Leaders of the organization recognized the need to interpret the history of the early army posts of the region in a larger context, and worked to include exhibits related to social history. In 1980 the name of the museum was officially changed to the El Paso Museum of History and in the early 2000s, the new downtown museum facility was completed. The museum holds five galleries that are home to permanent exhibits that focus on the diverse and once separate neighborhoods of the city, the growth of the area from Native inhabitants and its role as a transportation corridor in the Spanish colonial era, the growth of the city and its leading industries, El Paso's unique history as a Borderlands community, and an exhibit dedicated to the famous 1966 Texas Western collegiate basketball championship team. The remaining galleries hold a variety of exhibits that change throughout the year. The highlight of the museum is an interactive digital wall that allows visitors to explore every aspect of El Paso history and even share their memories.

Downtown El Paso Walking Tour

State National Bank

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information