Magoffin Homestead
1120 Magoffin Ave., El Paso, TXJoseph Magoffin, son of Maria Gertrudis (Valdez) and James Wiley Magoffin, was born on January 14, 1837, in Chihuahua, Mexico, where his father was United States Consul. The family moved to Independence, Missouri, in 1844. Young Magoffin was educated in Lexington, Kentucky, and St. Louis, Missouri. In 1856 he joined his father at the present site of El Paso, Texas, where he had settled after the Mexican War.
The Magoffins were militant supporters of the secession. Joseph Magoffin had varied experiences in the Confederate Army. He was a major on the staff of H. H. Sibley in the New Mexico campaign, served in Virginia and fought in the Battle of Seven Pines, and was sent to Marshall, Texas, to secure supplies. After the close of the war, he returned to El Paso and succeeded in his father's estate in 1868. After considerable difficulty, he recovered much of his father's property that had been confiscated during the early period of Radical control of the area. As in the days of his father, "Don Santiago", the Magoffin home continued to be the center of the social life of El Paso and Fort Bliss.
Magoffin, a successful businessman, was the director of the State National Bank. He helped organize the International Street Railway Company to unite El Paso with Juarez, Mexico, and was interested in other street railways and public utilities. A life-long and politically active Democrat, Magoffin served at various times as a member of the El Paso school board, justice of the peace, and county judge. For four terms he was mayor of El Paso. President Grover Cleveland appointed him the collector of the port of El Paso.
Magoffin was married in 1864 to Octavia McGrael in Houston, Texas. A son and a daughter survived to maturity. In 1875, Magoffin built the Magoffin Homestead ten blocks east of the present central business district. This large residence is a unique combination of traditional adobe architecture with elaborate wooden detailing on windows and doors in the Victorian style. Magoffin died September 27, 1923, at the home of his daughter in Washington, D.C., but was buried in El Paso. The Magoffin Homestead has been owned by Magoffin heirs to the present.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965.
Local significance of the building:
The Magoffins were militant supporters of the secession. Joseph Magoffin had varied experiences in the Confederate Army. He was a major on the staff of H. H. Sibley in the New Mexico campaign, served in Virginia and fought in the Battle of Seven Pines, and was sent to Marshall, Texas, to secure supplies. After the close of the war, he returned to El Paso and succeeded in his father's estate in 1868. After considerable difficulty, he recovered much of his father's property that had been confiscated during the early period of Radical control of the area. As in the days of his father, "Don Santiago", the Magoffin home continued to be the center of the social life of El Paso and Fort Bliss.
Magoffin, a successful businessman, was the director of the State National Bank. He helped organize the International Street Railway Company to unite El Paso with Juarez, Mexico, and was interested in other street railways and public utilities. A life-long and politically active Democrat, Magoffin served at various times as a member of the El Paso school board, justice of the peace, and county judge. For four terms he was mayor of El Paso. President Grover Cleveland appointed him the collector of the port of El Paso.
Magoffin was married in 1864 to Octavia McGrael in Houston, Texas. A son and a daughter survived to maturity. In 1875, Magoffin built the Magoffin Homestead ten blocks east of the present central business district. This large residence is a unique combination of traditional adobe architecture with elaborate wooden detailing on windows and doors in the Victorian style. Magoffin died September 27, 1923, at the home of his daughter in Washington, D.C., but was buried in El Paso. The Magoffin Homestead has been owned by Magoffin heirs to the present.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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About El Paso County
El Paso County Timeline
El Paso County, Texas, has a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years. Before the arrival of European settlers, the area was inhabited by various Native American groups, including the Apache, Comanche, and Jumano tribes. They lived off the land, hunting, farming, and trading. The first recorded European exploration of the region occurred in 1581 when Juan de Oñate claimed the area for Spain.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, El Paso County became an important stopping point along the Camino Real, a trade route connecting Mexico City with Santa Fe. Spanish settlers established the town of San Elizario in 1789 as a waystation for travelers. The settlement grew as more people arrived, including Mexican and American traders, and it became a center for ranching and farming.
In the mid-19th century, El Paso County experienced significant changes brought about by the Mexican-American War and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. With the establishment of the new border between Mexico and the United States, El Paso became a strategic area for trade and military operations. Fort Bliss, one of the oldest Army posts in the Southwest, was established in the area in 1848 to protect American settlers and the new border.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El Paso County experienced a population boom due to the growth of mining, agriculture, and the railroad industry. The city of El Paso, which was incorporated in 1873, played a pivotal role in these developments. As a border town, it served as a gateway for trade with Mexico and witnessed significant cultural and demographic changes as diverse groups of immigrants arrived seeking economic opportunities.
Today, El Paso County continues to be an important region characterized by a unique blend of cultures, influenced by its rich history and its location on the U.S.-Mexico border. With a population of over 800,000, it is a vibrant center of commerce, education, and tourism, attracting visitors from both sides of the border and beyond.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, El Paso County became an important stopping point along the Camino Real, a trade route connecting Mexico City with Santa Fe. Spanish settlers established the town of San Elizario in 1789 as a waystation for travelers. The settlement grew as more people arrived, including Mexican and American traders, and it became a center for ranching and farming.
In the mid-19th century, El Paso County experienced significant changes brought about by the Mexican-American War and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. With the establishment of the new border between Mexico and the United States, El Paso became a strategic area for trade and military operations. Fort Bliss, one of the oldest Army posts in the Southwest, was established in the area in 1848 to protect American settlers and the new border.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El Paso County experienced a population boom due to the growth of mining, agriculture, and the railroad industry. The city of El Paso, which was incorporated in 1873, played a pivotal role in these developments. As a border town, it served as a gateway for trade with Mexico and witnessed significant cultural and demographic changes as diverse groups of immigrants arrived seeking economic opportunities.
Today, El Paso County continues to be an important region characterized by a unique blend of cultures, influenced by its rich history and its location on the U.S.-Mexico border. With a population of over 800,000, it is a vibrant center of commerce, education, and tourism, attracting visitors from both sides of the border and beyond.
El Paso County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of El Paso County, Texas.
- 1682: Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate claims the El Paso area for Spain.
- 1827: El Paso del Norte is established as a new Mexican border town.
- 1848: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, transferring the El Paso region from Mexico to the United States.
- 1850: El Paso becomes part of the newly formed Texas state.
- 1881: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reaches El Paso, spurring rapid growth and development.
- 1888: El Paso County is officially organized, with El Paso as the county seat.
- 1909: The Chamizal dispute is resolved, confirming the Rio Grande as the border between the United States and Mexico.
- 1916: The Mexican Revolution spills over into El Paso County, resulting in military clashes and tension along the border.
- 1924: The construction of the iconic Paso del Norte International Bridge is completed, further strengthening El Paso's role as a major border crossing.
- 1951: The Korean War leads to increased military presence in El Paso County, with the establishment of Fort Bliss.
- 1963: The El Paso Museum of Art is opened, showcasing a diverse collection of artwork from around the world.
- 1993: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is implemented, further boosting trade and economic activity in El Paso County.