The El Paso Museum of History offers visitors a bilingual, multi-cultural experience through exhibitions that focus on the history of El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North). The permanent and rotating exhibitions in the museum’s six galleries feature history beginning from pre-Spanish contact to present.
Neighborhoods and Shared Memories: Hacienda Heights to Ranchland
Apr 10, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026
"Neighborhoods and Shared Memories: Hacienda Heights to Ranchland," 1950 – 1990. Once dairy farms and desert, the Lower Valley area boomed post-World War II as families were able to build or purchase their first homes. The tightly-knit community of Black, Mexican, and white families represented a diverse working and middle class neighborhood in the wake of desegregation. The exhibit showcases how schools, businesses, and the changing socio-economic landscape influenced the area's identity and the people who made their homes there.
This exhibit is part of an ongoing series that features historic neighborhoods throughout El Paso. Previously exhibited neighborhoods included Chihuahuita, Segundo Barrio, Sunset Heights, Manhattan Heights, South Central, Rio Grande, and Franklin Heights.
El Paso’s Homegrown: The Korean War
Jul 27, 2024 - Jul 26, 2025
2nd Floor, Gallery C
“El Paso’s Homegrown: The Korean War” is an original exhibition dedicated to exploring El Pasoans and the Korean War (1950 - 1953). Opening on the anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, this exhibit will showcase the many facets of El Pasoans' experiences, from their service abroad in Korea to their lives as Korean and Korean-American citizens. In addition to artifacts from the conflict itself, the exhibit will also feature Korean history, culture, and the ongoing relationship between the United States and Korea. This exhibit is the latest in the ongoing series El Paso’s Homegrown, which began in 2022 with an exhibit about El Pasoans and World War II.
“El Paso’s Homegrown: The Korean War” opens to the public at 1pm on Saturday, July 27 and will be on display through July 2025!
Dualidad: Indigenous Gender Identity in the American Southwest and Mexico
Mar 28, 2024 - Jun 8, 2025
2nd Floor, Gallery D
“Dualidad” is a look into the Southwestern United States and Mexican Indigenous tribes, and their connection to community members who identified as gender-nonconforming including the concepts of individuals possessing both male and female identities. Throughout the process of colonization and its devastating effects to regional cultural identities, the respect and recognition of Two Spirit people has been lost, diminishing their roles in society. However, many Two Spirit and gender-nonconforming individuals have worked to regain their power and place in the community and culture through education, healing, and art practices.
This exhibition will highlight the Zuni, Diné, Apache, Laguna/Acoma/Pueblo, Mexica, Rarámuri and Zapoteca tribes who have honored gender-nonconforming individuals as foundational members of their culture as well as artists, medicine people, and visionaries within their given community.
“Dualidad: Indigenous Gender Identity in the American Southwest and Mexico” is on display through June 2025.
