About the El Paso County Historical Society
Texas's Largest Historical Society
Founded in 1954, the El Paso County Historical Society has grown to become the largest historical society in the state of Texas. The organization's mission is to foster research into the history of the El Paso area, acquire and make available historical materials to the public, publish and encourage historical writing about the region, and develop public consciousness of El Paso's rich historical heritage. Since its founding, the society has rescued at-risk buildings, conducted yearly educational events, and helped establish Hueco Tanks State Park.
The society maintains extensive Southwest archives in the Jane Burges-Perrenot Research Center, housed in the 112-year-old Burges House, a Texas Historic Landmark. The archives contain over 25,000 items including more than 20,000 photographs, thousands of historical documents, and numerous three-dimensional artifacts pertaining to the history of the El Paso region. The society serves as the operating agency for the El Paso Museum of History, providing visitors and researchers with invaluable resources for understanding the border region's complex past.
The society's quarterly publication, Password, has been published continuously since spring 1956, with an annual award given for the best article. In 1962, the society inaugurated the El Paso Hall of Honor, which annually recognizes two county residents—one living and one deceased—of "outstanding vision, courage and creative skill." Additional programs include three annual essay prizes for junior historians, a historical memories contest for senior citizens, and an annual tour of historic homes in the El Paso area. Through these diverse initiatives, the El Paso County Historical Society preserves the multicultural heritage of the borderland region.
Plan Your Visit
The El Paso County Historical Society is headquartered in the historic Burges House at 603 West Yandell in the Sunset Heights Historic District. The research center is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Mountain Time). The Burges House is an El Paso Historic Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1993. For research requests or general information, visit www.elpasohistory.com, email elpasocountyhistory@gmail.com, or call (915) 533-3603.
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