El Paso, Texas, lies on the banks of the Rio Grande in the far western corner of Texas. It’s a colorful and bustling city that features a rugged yet beautiful desert landscape, as well as a rich historical and cultural heritage. Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to interesting landmarks to visit in this city! Check out these options.
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Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
If you enjoy hiking through beautiful natural scenery, a visit to Hueco Tanks State Park is the perfect way to spend a few hours. This natural historic site, which is located about 32 miles northeast of El Paso, consists of low mountains that contain many rock basins where rainwater is naturally stored. For thousands of years, people flocked here to collect this rainwater and one can get a glimpse of the rich history of this desert sanctuary through the many rock paintings in the area.
The park is an excellent spot for birdwatching, as it’s home to several bird species, including the prairie falcon, lesser goldfinch, and black-chinned hummingbird. The area is also one of the top spots in the world for bouldering and is visited by thousands of climbers from all over the world annually. In addition, the park offers multiple picnic spots with shade shelters and well-equipped camping sites.
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Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
Founded in 1936 to celebrate the centenary of Texas’s independence, the Centennial Museum is the oldest museum in El Paso. It boasts permanent and rotating exhibits that focus on the cultural and natural heritage of the Chihuahuan Desert region, including archeological treasures like a collection of Casas Grandes pottery.
The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, which is on the museum’s grounds, is home to over 800 plant species that are either native or have adapted well to the desert. These plants are grown and displayed in various “theme” gardens, where visitors can learn how to use them in their landscaping projects to conserve water. Annually, the museum hosts the FloraFEST, where patrons can chat with master gardeners and horticulturalists and buy native plants that are not commonly sold in nurseries.
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The Plaza Theatre
The Plaza Theatre in El Paso was constructed in 1830 and is today a National Historic Building of Significance. The building was constructed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style and boasts beautiful mosaic-tiled floors, painted ceilings, and antique furniture.
The main hall, which can seat up to 2,050 people, features a star-lit ceiling to provide the illusion that guests are seated in a Spanish courtyard. Apart from this hall, the theater also boasts the 200-seat Philanthropy Theater and the Alcantar Sky Garden, where patrons can host private receptions. Over the years, locals and visitors have been treated to a wide variety of live entertainment at the Plaza Theatre, including popular Broadway productions and live music shows by some of the greats in the country music scene.
Whether you enjoy recreational activities in and around natural sites, are interested to learn about the area’s cultural and natural history, or would like to view a Broadway production in a gorgeous historic building, El Paso is home to many intriguing and beautiful landmarks that are sure to be of interest!
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