Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the US-Mexico border. The Chamizal Convention of 1963 settled it once and for all,
and the two cities sit on opposite banks of the Rio Grande, together but separate.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
When it comes to time zones, El Paso sides with New Mexico, conforming to Mountain Time rather than Central
Time like the rest of Texas. Confusing? Occasionally. If you're telling someone in neighboring Van Horn or Fort
Stockton what time you'll meet them, be sure to add on the extra hour you'll lose just by leaving El Paso.
Sights
Many of El Paso's museums are free or by donation. Visit
www.freeelpaso.com/exhib-
its.html
for a list of free things to do.
El Paso is a sprawling city of 240 sq miles, but much of that space is taken up by Fort
Bliss and the enormous Franklin Mountains State Park. The Franklin Mountains divide
the city into a west side and an east side, with downtown sitting due south of the moun-
tains, and the I-10 serving as the primary through-route. Just south of downtown is the Rio
Grande and, across the river, Juárez, Mexico.
TOP OF CHAPTER
1
Downtown
El Paso Museum of Art
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
( 915-532-1707;
www.elpasoartmuseum.org
; 1 Arts Festival Plaza; special exhibits charge admission; 9am-5pm
Tue-Sat, to 9pm Thu, noon-5pm Sun)
This thoroughly enjoyable museum is in a former
Greyhound station. They'd want us to brag about their
Madonna and Child
(c 1200), but
the Southwestern art is terrific, and the engaging modern pieces round out the collection
nicely. All this, and it's free?! Well done, El Paso, well done.
