National Register Listing

Presidio Chapel of San Elizario

a.k.a. Nuestra Senora del Pilar y de Glorioso San Jose'

S side of plaza, San Elizario, TX
San Elizario, often spelled San Eleazaro, was originally founded at Nuestra Señora del Pilar y Glorioso Senor San José near the mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in present Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The move, which came as the result of the Marquis de Rubí's recommendation that troops from Presidio de Guajuqulla in Nueva Vizcaya be moved to the Valley of San Elizario, was moved in 1773, and the presidio was renamed San Elizario (Handbook of Texas. Vol. II, p. 550). When in use as a presidio chapel, San Elizario was served by Franciscan missionaries.

Before 1814, the presidio was moved to another site, but the chapel and the town, which grew around the presidio, remained The town of San Elizario prospered in the nineteenth century and William H. Emory estimated the population to be 1,200, making it the largest of the valley towns south of El Paso.

San Elizario was the county seat of El Paso County from its organization as a county from 1850 until 1876. United States troops were first stationed in San Elizario in 1850 and during the Civil War, the California Column was a Union force composed chiefly of California volunteers who held the area to prevent a Confederate invasion of California.

The present church is not the old post chapel known as Nuestra Señora del Pilar y el Glorioso San José but is a structure of comparatively recent date. The chapel building which preceded it was destroyed by the flood waters of the Rio Grande. The walls of the present chapel building date from 1877; the interior, however, has been rebuilt subsequently to a fire in 1935 which completely destroyed the interior.
Local significance of the building:
Historic - Non-aboriginal; Architecture; Religion

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

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.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is one of the largest universities in the United States and has produced many notable alumni, including several U.S. presidents.
Texas random facts
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.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey 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.