Historic Markers, Memorials & PLagues

Boundry of the United States of America
International Boundry and Water commission between United States and Mexico

International boundry and Water Commission
The first international monument of the 276 installed to the west along the international land boundry which marks the international boundry between the United States and Mexico.This monument was placed on Janurary 31, 1855 in accordance with the 1853 treaty and was registered by the international water and Commission between the United States and Mexico on June 2, 1980 in commemoration of the first centennial of the establishment of this international Commission.
United States Commissioner Dr. Nareadra A. Gunaji

Old Fort Bliss, on site formerly in Mexico. Owned after 1849 by Simeon Hart, founder of Hart's MIll and early village of El Paso.
Officers quarters, built about 1879 on 3' foundations of hewn stone. 24" walls are double-laid adobe brick. 1965

On this site was established in 1880, in 1896 was moved to its present location.

The First Regiment Missouri
Mounted Volunteers under the command of Colonel A. W. doniphan marches to Mexcio to the assistance of General Zachary Taylor camped on this site from December 27, 1846 to February 7, 1847
Rededicated May 1964 by Rebecca Stoddart Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution

This obelisk marks the souther tip of the franklin range of the Rocky Mountains, sponsored by the Women's Department of the Chamber of Commerce and the City of El Paso Department of Parks.
Plaque presented by the State National Banks of El Paso, Texas March 22, 1974

Established by Don Antonio De Otermin and Father Fray Francisco Ayeta. O.F.M. in 1682 - maintained by Franciscan missionaries for the civilizing and christianizing of the Zuma Indians. 1936

Born in Austin, Texas
1856
Killed by bandits
June 30, 1893
near San Elizario while commanding Company D Texas Rangers.

Approximate site of the mission and pueblo of San Antonio De Senecu. Established by Don Antonio De Otermin and Father Fray Francisco Ayeta. O.F.M. in 1682 - maintained by Franciscan missionaries for the civilizing and christianizing of Piro and Tompiro Indians. 1936

Originally founded in 1613 at Isleta Pueblo, in New Mexico, and dedicaticated in 1621 as San Antonio De Isleta. Removed to El Paso area, 1680 (during Pueblo revolt), by Tigue Indians who brought along the patron saint as they accompioning Spaniards.
Re-established here in 1682. It has been named successively; Sacramento De Los Tiquas De Ysleta, Corpus Christi De Los Tiquas De Ysleta (1691), San Antonio De los Tiquas De Ysleta (1744), and Nuestra Senora Del Carmen (1874). Present Chapel has walls and bells of 1744 building. Still ministers to the Tiguas.
Date of plaque (1970)

San Elizario was established in 1789 on the former site of Hacienda de los Tiburcios as a Spanish Colonial Fort known as Presidio of San Ecleario. The Presidio was moved from its former location [appx. 37 mls] in response to requests from settlers for military protection from Indian raids. It operated as a Spanish Fort until 1814 when troops withdrew during the Mexican War for Independence. [1810-1831]
During its years as a part of Mexico, The Presidio of San Ecleario [now San Elizario] was occupied periodically by Mexican troops. A reduced military presence resulted in the Fort's decline.
American controll of the area began in 1848 with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which established the Rio Grande as the border between the United States and Mexico. When the County of El Paso was organized in 1850, the town of San Elizario was chosen as the first county seat and served as such until 1873. In 1877 it was the scene of the crisis known as the Salt War, in which local business men attempted to control the salt market that had operated since colonial times.
Although San Elizario was bypassed by the railroad and has become a rural farming community, it remains an important element in the region's rich heritage.

Spanish interest in the territory known as New Mexico increased during the 1580s and 1590s. Although reports of mining and missionary possibilities were significant, King Phillip was also concerned about new world explorations of rival England. As a result, Don Juan De Ornate was commissioned to claim and colonize the New Mexico region in the name of the King.
After many delays, Ornate and his party of 400 men and members of their families left Santa Barbara, Mexico in January 1598. Instead of following the earlier routes, they crossed the Chihuahuadesert to reach the El Paso area. IN a ceremony at this site on April 30, 1598, Ornate issued a proclamation known as La Toma. Taking possession of the region for Spain included were all land drained by the Rio Del Norte, The Rio Grande.
Proceeding north, Ornate established headquarters near present Sant Fe and founded the province of New Mexico. As Governor, he directed exploration of the area until he resigned in 1607. Ornate's expedition and La Toma brought Spanish rule to the American Southwest and proceded colonization efforts of other european nations on the north American continent. 1981

Inspired by Indian stories of settlements in present New Mexico and authorized by the Spanish viceroy,Fray Agustin Rodriquez, a franciscan priest, led a missionary expedition to the area. Accompanied by Fray Juan De Santa Maria,Fray Francisco Lopez, nine soldiers, and nineteen Indian servants. He left Santa Barbara, Mexico on June 5, 1581. The military escort was led byFrancisco Sanchez, who became his red bear, was known as El Chamuscado, "the Singed"
Following the Rio Grande the expedition reached El Paso.Proceeding through the pass they spent the remainder of 1581 exploring the vast region from present western New Mexico to the Texas Panhandle.
After Indians killed Fray Santa Maria in September 1581, plans were made to return for a report to the Spanish authorities. Despite the hostile enviroment, the two remaining missionaries chose to stay. Chamuscado led the others back through the pass of the north, but died before reaching Santa Barbara.
Believed to have been the first Spanish expedition to use the pass of the Norte, The Rodriquez-Chamuscado Expedition marked the beginning of the Spanish influence in the ares. Their exploration opened the region, now the American Southwest, to later colonization.

Following the Rodriquez Chamuscado expedition of 1581 there was increased interest in the area now known as New Mexico and Texas. There was also concern for the safety of Fray Rodriquez and Fray Lopez, who had stayed in the area. In 1582 A franciscan priest, from Santa Barbara, Mexico, Fray Bernardino Beltran, formed an expedition to find the missionaries. His military escort was led by Antonio De Espej0, a former Santa Barbara merchant and rancher living in voluntary exile over a legal dispute with the Spanish authorities.
The expedition departed the mining outpost of Bartolome in November 1582. By the following January they had reached th El Paso area. In present New Mexico they learned that Fray Rodriquez and Fray Lopez had been killed by Indians. Fray Beltran led a small party back to Mexico, but Espejo and xeveral companions stayed to check the Indian stories of silver mines and wealty pueblos. On their journey the Spaniards became the first explorers in the region from Pecos River to thr Junta De Los Rios, the junction of the Choncho River and the Rio Grande. The reports of their explorations futher heighted the interest in the area.

The Salt War rose from political conflicts in the El Paso County and from the controversiers over control of the salt lakes east of El Paso that for centuries had been a free source of salt for local residents. In 1877 Charles Howard, a former county jusge who claimed ownership of the lakes, shot political adversary Luis Cardis over the issue of the salt beds. While under the protection of state troops in San Elizario, Howard and sever troopers where killed by a riotous mob. Federal and state investigations of the salt war led to the reesatablishment of Fort Bliss in 1878.

This structure was built about 1850 of adobe bricks [sun-dried mud and reeds] and cottonwood logs around steel cell blocks. It served as county jail from 1850 - 66 and 1868 - 1873, when san Elizario was the first and third county seat. It housed both jail ("carcel" in Spanish)and courtroom ("juzgado"). According to ledgend, william Bonney, famed outlaw billy the Kid, freeded the only man ever to escape from this jail, his cohort Melquiades Seguro. Recorded Texas Historical Landmark 1970.

During the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, Gov. Antonio De Otermin and Father Francisco de Ayeta led Piro and Spanish refugees out of New Mexico and into this region, establishing a settlement they called Socorro after the home they had left. The town's first adobe Church was built in 1691 and was called Nuestra Senora de la Limpia concepcion de las Piros del Socorro [Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Piros of Socorro.] Construction of the present structure began following a destructive 1829 flood and was completed in 1840. The flood changed the course of the Rio Grande from North of socorro to south of the townsite. When the river was declared the U.S./Mexico boundry, Socorro became part of the United States. Under the adminstration of the Franciscan monks for 172 years, the church was later governed by dicesan priestsas well as Italiand and Mexican Jesuits. Its history spans the time of the regions occupancy by spain, Mexico, and the United States, although Socorro Mission La Purisima, as it is know today, has been overshadowed by urban growth in nearby El Paso. It remains one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the southwest.

Legend says this house was built before 1800. In 1840s, its owner was Jose Ortiz, whose cart train freighted salt from foot of Guadalupe mountains to Durango; knives, sarapes, clothing to Santa Fe and Llano Estancado. There he traded with Comanches and other wild indians for dried buffalo hides and meat. He was a "Comanchero, Salinero, Cibolero"> Francisca Lujan, the widow of Epifanio Ortiz (1842?-1932), was last of family to live here, in 1940s. a fine example of New Spain's frontier architecture: thick adobe walls; cottonwood and willow vigas and latias with dirt roof. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1973

Site (partially reclaimed) of a 19th century walled hacienda appearing on 1852 map near San Elizario road crossing of acequia madre. By 1873 part of the building was razed, but surviving parts were occupied by store ofJuan Carbajal and some municipal offices. 1972

Local farmer, rancher, and landowner Gregorio Nacenseno Garcia constructed this building as his family residence about 1855. Built in the territorial style, it features milled wood detailing. Because of its distinstive inset gallery (portals), it became known as Los Portales. In the 1870's, the structure was converted to use as a schoolhouse. The first teacher was Octaviano Larrazola, who later became governor of New Mexico and a U.S. Senator. 1962

San Elizario Catholic Church during the early days served as the mother Church for this and surrounding communities. This land served as a cemetery from the early 1770's to 1896. Early settlers, Indians, U.S. military personel, clergy and members of religious orders were buried here.
The last known person buried here was Juanita Escajeda Carreon in 1896. The youth of San Elizario dedicate this land as a memorial to those people buried in these grounds. 1989

Late in November 1597, a colonizing expedition heqded by Juan De Onate left Santa Barbara in northern Chihuahua headed for what is now New Mexico, four hundred men led the way, some of whom had wives and children, there were several priests, 63 wagons and carts, 1000 head of stock, they were planning to stay.
They reached the Rio Concho and after a needed rest, Started out again on February 7 marching on northward over the barren desert of Chihuahua for several weeks. The last four days without water, the expedidtion finally reached El Paso Del Norte [near the present day San Elizario] April 26 1598. The Poet-chronicler of the march, Gasper Perez De Villagra wrote that the river was a most welcome sight."Horses approached the rolling stream and plunged headlong into it, two drank so much that they burst their sides and died," some of the humans went almost as wild. The arrival was a "happy and joyous occasion," and all were in a thankful mood. Grateful for the completion of a perilous part of their journey, abundance of water, plenty of wild game along the river, the expedition set about preparation for a great celebration, The First Thanksgiving in what is now the United States of America which took place on April 30, 1598.
The great colonizer, as Onate has been called, thus brought the Spanish culture [and ultimately that of Mexico] to what would become the Great Southwest shaping its growth anddevelopment of the area for generations. these historic events preceded the English colonies on the Atlantic Seaboard, the french colonization of Canada, and the Dutch settlement in the Hudson River area by several years.