Historic Cemetery

Smelter Cemetery

a.k.a. Smeltertown, La Calavera

28 San Marcos Dr, El Paso, Texas 79922
Location: From downtown El Paso, take I-I 0 west for approximately 2 miles, then take Exit 16 at Executive Center. Turn left on Executive Center and drive 1/4 mile. Take left onto San Marcos Drive, a dirt road just before Executive Center dead-ends into West Paisano Drive. Follow San Marcos Drive for approximately 100 feet and then take right fork and continue approximately 200 feet to a yellow road gate. This gate is only open on weekends and holidays, but it is possible to park near the gate and to reach the cemetery by foot. Alternately, a key to the gate can be procured from Ruben Escondon at 11 San Marcos Drive. The cemetery is approximately 200 yards beyond the yellow gate. It lies near the top of the hill. The cemetery gate is open during daylight hours. There is no official address for the cemetery.
Graves: 5100 (1882-2011)

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.

gravesites