Pioneer Plaza Marker

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El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Pioneer Plaza

By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

1. Pioneer Plaza Marker

Inscription. Pioneer Plaza was the center of public activity in early El Paso. A United States military guard was posted here in the late 1870s to defend citizens from Apache Indian attacks, and military bands performed in the plaza.

An irrigation ditch flowed along the south boundary of the plaza and nourished a line of trees which shaded the area. Among the trees was an ash known as the "Newspaper Tree" on which public notices were posted.

Major roads and trails passed through the plaza. El Paso Street led southward to El Paso Del Norte, Mexico, and San Francisco Street led westward from the plaza to connect with trails to California. The Butterfield Overland Stage route crossed the southwest corner of the plaza.

Pioneer Plaza was the site of many parades and public events. United States President William H. Taft and Mexican President Porfirio Diaz each passed through the plaza with their entourages while en route to the Chamber of Commerce building for their historic meeting on October 16, 1909.

Due to its small size, Pioneer Plaza was replaced by San Jacinto Plaza as the center of activity.

Erected 1988 by Texas Historical Commission and the Women's Club of El Paso Historical and Charitable Trust.

Location. 31°

By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

2. Pioneer Plaza Marker

Pioneer Plaza Marker is on the left.

45.508′ N, 106° 29.338′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. Marker is on South El Paso Street, on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Marker is located at Pioneer Plaza and South El Paso Street. Marker is in this post office area: El Paso TX 79901, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. El Paso (here, next to this marker); Fray García de San Francisco (here, next to this marker); El Paso's First Newspaper (a few steps from this marker); LULAC (a few steps from this marker); The First Kindergarten in Texas (a few steps from this marker); The Woman's Club of El Paso (a few steps from this marker); Hotel Paso Del Norte (within shouting distance of this marker); A City Is Born (within shouting distance of this marker). Click for a list of all markers in El Paso.

Pioneer Plaza Photo, Click for full size

By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

3. Pioneer Plaza

By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

4. Pioneer Plaza

Credits. This page originally submitted on November 11, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 293 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 11, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.