In this episode, we interview Doug Pullen and Eric Pearson of the El Paso Community Foundation about their annual Plaza Classic Film Festival. We'll also discuss the "El Paso. It's All Good." movement and a few 'Can't Miss' events for August. Outro song is 'Ska Girl' by Fixed Idea.

www.VisitElPaso.com

Episode 14 | August 2014

In this episode, we interview Nahum Avila about the 2nd Annual Sun City Craft Beer Festival, "hoppening" on October 4th. We'll also discuss the "El Paso. It's All Good." movement and a few 'Can't Miss' events for September. Outro song is ''Commonwealth" by The Black Coats. 

www.VisitElPaso.com 


Episode 15 | September 2014

In this episode of the Visit El Paso Podcast, we interview MCAD's Cultural Programs Supervisor, Ben Fyffe about the 7th Annual Chalk the Block Arts Festival, one of El Paso's largest, FREE events of its kind happening on October 10-12. We'll also discuss the "El Paso. It's All Good." movement and a few 'Can't Miss' events for October. Outro song is ''Sitting Alone" by Chuco Soul Project. 


Episode 16 | October 2014

This building was constructed in 1908. Designed as the luxurious Hotel Orndorff in the early 20th century, the Hotel Cortez is an elaborate representation of the Spanish Colonial Revival style with strong Renaissance overtones. The assortment of decorative elements skillfully applied to the tripartite format of the brick structure attests to the artistic genius of Trost. In keeping with the Spanish influence are three-dimensional busts of helmeted conquistadores and Spanish court coats of arms. The new Hotel Orndorff, commissioned by Mrs. Charles DeGroff for $1,400,000, officially opened on September 10, 1926. On June 5, 1963, President Kennedy stayed overnight at the hotel.

Hotel Cortez

The hotel was designed by Trost & Trost and opened in 1912. This brick and terra cotta structure was the "dream hotel" of early El Paso businessman and promoter Zach White. Designed by the noted El Paso architectural firm of Trost and Trost, the structure was engineered to be fireproof and was modeled after buildings that had survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Throughout its history, Hotel Paso Del Norte has served travelers and tourists, has been an El Paso social center, and has been used as a headquarters for cattle trading ranchers. Numerous dignitaries from both the United States and Mexico have been guests here over the years. The large hotel lobby features a stained glass dome over twenty-five feet in diameter. During the Mexican Revolution, it was popular to watch firefights between the revolutionaries and the Mexican Army from the terrace on the top of the hotel. Some of the notable people who stayed at the hotel include Gloria Swanson, General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, General Alvaro Obregon, John Reed (journalist), Will Rogers, Enrico Caruso, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, the then Vice President Richard Nixon. In 2004, the hotel was extensively remodeled and renamed the Camino Real Hotel.

Hotel Paso Del Norte

At one time the tallest building in El Paso, the O.T. Bassett Tower rises fifteen stories with a strong vertical thrust in the setback skyscraper form which prevailed during the Modernistic development of the early 20th century. An elaborate entrance detailed with Art Deco design elements is the focal point of the southeast facade of the ground floor. Included in this composition are facial representations, one of which is believed to be a likeness of Trost himself. 

OT Bassett Tower

Built for Conrad Hilton as the El Paso Hilton Hotel, the present Plaza Hotel is significant as one of El Paso's early high-rise structures from the office of Trost and Trost. The style is Art Deco, and the exterior remains largely unaltered from its original form. Hilton, born in San Antonio, New Mexico in 1887, rose to international recognition as founder of one of the world's most successful hotel chains. The Plaza Hotel, located at Mills and Oregon Streets, is composed of a two story trapezoidal plan block attached to a rectangular fifteen story hotel tower topped by a smaller three story central block. Construction is of brick and concrete. Decoration on the first two floor facades, extending around the entire building, consists of simplified pilasters, stylized geometric Art Deco spandrels, and polychromatic roundels. A simple cornice crowns the two-story portion.

Plaza Motor Hotel

Socorro (help), took its name from Socorro, New Mexico, from which the Piro Indians fled following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Records show that Socorro was officially founded during a Mass delivered by Fray Antonio Guerra on October 13, 1680.
Socorro's first permanent mission was in use by circa 1691.At that time, Socorro was comprised of sixty Piro Indian families and fifteen Spanish families. The mission was built by the Piros under the direction of Franciscan missionaries and dedicated as Nuestra Senora de Limpla Concepci6n de los Piros de Socorro del Sur (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Piros of Socorro of the South). Many of the parishioners refer to their mission as San Miguel (St. Michael), in honor of their patron saint; or as La Purisima, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Forever Pure. When the 1740 flood destroyed the original structure, the parishioners replaced it nearby. That second structure was also lost to flooding in 1829. Rebuilding was completed in 1843.
Archaeological evidence suggests that decorative, carved cottonwood and cypress roof supports called vigas (beams) and decorative corbels supporting the vigas were salvaged from Socorro's first mission, dating to circa 1691. Oral histories relate that the Piro people painted the designs on the vigas and corbels using plant-based pigments. The walls were constructed of adobe and finished with  plaster. The front stepped facade with its center-placed bell tower has been com­ pared to the decorative design motifs associated with many Pueblo Indian tribes. The building represents the best elements of Indian and Spanish design still preserved in El Paso County.
Other significant features of the Socorro Mission include the adjacent rectory, dating to the 1840s period of mission construction; the camposanto (cemetery) features four unique small descansos (structures) that serve as resting areas. The large open area in front of the mission recalls the former plaza, and adjoining portions of the acequias (irrigation system) also remain.
The mission was completely restored through a ten­ year, community-based collaboration and reopened for use with a Mass on December 7,2005.


Mission Socorro

Corner of Santa Fe & Paisano St., 79901

Designed by Trost & Trost and opened on September 19, 1930, this two-story station has three engine stations, concrete sills and steel frame windows.

Santa Fe St. & 4th Ave.:  Fire Station No. 11

EP Streetcar - 03 - Abraham Chavez Theater

EP Streetcar - 04 - Hotel Paso Del Norte

EP Streetcar - 05 - El Paso Museum Of History

EP Streetcar - 10 - El Paso & Southwestern Railroad Bldg

EP Streetcar - 15 - El Paso County Courthouse

EP Streetcar - 16 - Robert E. Thomason Federal Courthouse

EP Streetcar - 17 - Blue Flame Bldg

EP Streetcar - 19 - Caples Bldg

EP Streetcar - 20 - Douglass Grammar And High School

EP Streetcar - 23 - Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Depot

EP Streetcar - 24 - Pablo Baray Apartments

EP Streetcar - 26 - St. Patrick Cathedral

EP Streetcar - 30 - UTEP

EP Streetcar - 31 - Hal Marcus Gallery

EP Streetcar - 32 - Temple Mt. Sinai

EP Streetcar - 33 - El Paso Holocaust Museum

EP Streetcar - 34 - San Jacinto Plaza

EP Streetcar - 35 - Mills Bldg

EP Streetcar - 36 - Cortez Bldg

EP Streetcar - 37 - The Kress Bldg

EP Streetcar - 38 - Plaza Hotel

EP Streetcar - 39 - Roberts - Banner Bldg

The Visit El Paso Podcast is a monthly podcast discussing the City of El Paso, it's attractions, events & culture. The show is hosted by Crysti Couture, Social & Multimedia Coordinator for Destination El Paso. 


Visit El Paso

Popular tracks