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

Mount Cristo Rey/ The Gadsden Purchase/ El Paso Smelting Works

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

1. Mount Cristo Rey/ The Gadsden Purchase/ El Paso Smelting Works Marker

Inscription. Mount Cristo Rey High above the point where the states of Texas, New Mexico and Chihuahua intersect stands an impressive monument at the summit of Sierra de Cristo Rey, portraying Christ on the cross. The dream of the small parish of San Jose Del Rio Grande was realized when this fifty-three foot high cross was dedicated in 1940.

The Gadsden Purchase Across the river from the Southwestern Portland Cement Company plant, the products of which have helped build El Paso and the Southwest, is the east-west boundary monument between the United States and Mexico. This line was established by the Gadsden Purchase Treaty of 1853, which added 45,000 square miles to the southern portions of New Mexico and Arizona, through purchase from Mexico for ten million dollars.

El Paso Smelting Works Nearby can be seen the reaching stacks of this huge plant, which has been in continuous operation since 1887 and is the largest custom

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smelter in the world, and an important and sustaining factor in the mining development of this area.

Erected 1962 by the State National Bank of El Paso, Texas.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 31° 46.953′ N, 106° 28.794′ 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: 2208 Scenic Drive, 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

Mount Franklin Scenic Overlook (view west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

2. Mount Franklin Scenic Overlook (view west)

Mount Cristo Rey/ The Gadsden Purchase/ El Paso Smelting Works Marker is the fifth marker on the left, just where the wall makes a bend.

New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Chamizal Settlement (here, next to this marker); The City of El Paso / Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (here, next to this marker); Texas Western College/ The Peace Grove (here, next to this marker); Bien Venido! (a few steps from this marker); The Rio Grande Irrigation Project (a few steps from this marker); The Franklin Mountains (a few steps from this marker); The Rainmakers of 1891 (a few steps from this marker); El Paso Lower Valley Missions/ Cordova Island/ The City and County of El Paso (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Paso.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Mount Cristo Rey. Dedicated in 1940, this monument to Christ was the vision of Fr. Lourdes Costa, a local parish priest, who in 1933 after looking out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown, envisioned erecting a monument at the summit of this glorious mountain.

International Boundary Marker #1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

3. International Boundary Marker #1

(Submitted on November 19, 2010.)

2. Gadsden Purchase Treaty : December 30, 1853. A transcription of the treaty signed by Franklin Pierce. (Submitted on November 20, 2010.)

Additional keywords. International Boundaries

Smeltertown and Madero Camp Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

4. Smeltertown and Madero Camp Markers

American Smelting and Refining Company is in backbround.

Monument at the summit of Sierra de Cristo Rey image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 21, 2012

5. Monument at the summit of Sierra de Cristo Rey

View is from West Paisano Drive and Executive Center Boulevard in El Paso.

Vintage Postcard of the Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Baxtone - Amarillo, Tx.

6. Vintage Postcard of the Monument

Sierra de Cristo Rey
Mountain of Christ the King "On a summit in New Mexico, about 3 miles west of downtown El Paso, Texas, stands a 42 1/2-foot figure of Christ on the Cross. It can be reached by a winding path a mile long from a point near 85. Each year a pilgrimage is made to it. Along the path there are fourteen Stations of the Cross."

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,930 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3, 4. submitted on November 20, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on October 28, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 6. submitted on February 5, 2013. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.