With a history stretching back as far as 1680, El Paso has one of the most diverse and lengthy cultural backgrounds in the country. While this interesting background is still seen today in El Paso’s food and culture, the city also has some of the most beautiful buildings in the Southwest. If you’re an architecture buff, make sure to take a look at some of these amazing and iconic El Paso buildings.
St. Patrick Cathedral
Located in downtown El Paso, St. Patrick Cathedral is one of the El Paso’s most recognized historic landmarks. Designed by the St. Louis architectural firm Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett, the cathedral’s construction started in 1914 and was completed on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. Built in a blended style of Byzantine and Romanesque styles, the cathedral is unlike any other building in the city.
Inside, it features ornate stained glass windows, marble altars, a pipe organ with 2,500 pipes, and a 300-year old painting of the Virgin Mary given by an anonymous donor in 2002. The cathedral is open for visits from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, although attending a mass in either English or Spanish makes this work of art come alive.
Lhakhang Cultural Exhibit
Built in 2008 for the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival, the Lhakhang Cultural Exhibit went through an interesting series of events to end up on the campus of UTEP. The interior of Lhakhang was constructed in Bhutan and sent to the States where it was assembled by a team of American and Bhutanese workers. After the festival ended, the plan was to throw the building away, but UTEP had other plans.
In 1916, UTEP was known as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Looking to expand the campus, the dean wanted to build something memorable, and asked his wife Kathleen Worrell, for suggestions. Inspired by photos of Bhutanese architecture in National Geographic, Worrell suggested the Bhutanese theme, which can still be seen in buildings today. The Lhankang was purchased and assembled on campus a few years later and is officially listed as a gift from Bhutan to El Paso.
Casa de Azucar
The Casa de Azucar, or Sugar House, is the painstaking work of one of El Paso’s residents. Started in 1973, Rufino Loya decided to make something to show his love for his wife that would last forever. To achieve this labor of love, he built small pillars of concrete inspired by traditional Mexican churches outside his home. Over the next 25 years, Loya spent thousands of hours sculpting the concrete masterpiece.
The centerpiece of this sculpture is the altarpiece that marks the entrance to his home. Adorned with flowers, pineapples, vines, and other natural motifs, the altar took nearly 300 hours to complete.
Few other cities can boast the architectural achievements of El Paso, and with many of the buildings in close proximity to one another, it’s easy to form your own walking or driving tour. If you’re in town for a visit, make sure to make this self-guided journey a part of your trip.
Visit El Paso by VisitElPaso is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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