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

The Rio Grande Rectification Project

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

1. The Rio Grande Rectification Project Marker

Inscription. Ahead is the Rio Grande. This great river formed the valley in the vista before you. Its meandering course was established as the boundary between the United States and Mexico by treaty in 1848.

The straight channel in the foreground is a portion of a unique international project. Here two nations joined hands in 1933 to peacefully rectify and stabilize their common boundary, and to relieve flood dangers in both countries. The channel was straightened by cutting across the old meanders to reduce the river's torturous course from 155 to 86 miles, without loss of area to either country.

This joint project was constructed and is maintained by the International Boundary and Water Commission and was conceived and engineered by commissioners L. M. Lawson, for the United States, and Gustavo P. Serrano, for Mexico

Erected 1962 by The State National Bank.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 31° 46.958′ N, 106° 28.781′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. It is in West Central El Paso. It is on Scenic Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1600 Scenic Dr, El Paso TX 79902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Trans-Pecos & Big Bend Region.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: El Paso Lower Valley Missions/ Cordova Island/ The City and County of El Paso (here, next to this marker); El Paso International Airport / The Butterfield Trail / Refinery Area (here, next to this marker); The Rainmakers of 1891 (a few steps from this marker); The Franklin Mountains (a few steps from this marker); Scenic Drive (a few steps from this marker); The Rio Grande Irrigation Project (a few steps from this marker); William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base / Fort Bliss (a few steps from this marker); The Chamizal Settlement (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Paso.

Also see . . . The Rio Grande Rectification Project. (Submitted on November 18, 2010.)

Additional keywords. International Boundaries

Mount Franklin Scenic Overlook image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

2. Mount Franklin Scenic Overlook

The Rio Grande Rectification Project Marker is the second marker on the right.

Wide view of The Rio Grande Rectification Project Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 19, 2013

3. Wide view of The Rio Grande Rectification Project Marker

The Rio Grande Rectification Project image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 19, 2013

4. The Rio Grande Rectification Project

The Rio Grande winds between El Paso (left) and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (right) in a concrete channel to minimize future flooding.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 804 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on September 2, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 4. submitted on August 24, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.