The Story of America

For millennia, El Paso del Norte has served as one of North America’s most enduring crossroads. On the Rio Grande’s run of 1,800 miles out of southern Colorado, El Paso del Norte marks the spot where mountain ranges on either side of the river shift its flow eastward toward the Gulf of Mexico. That quirk of geography has made this particular segment of the Rio Grande a traditional focal point for those seeking to cross the vast Chihuahuan Desert; the mountains around El Paso del Norte serve as a clear marker to weary travelers of where they’ll find a verdant oasis, a place of sustenance, and a chance to continue onward.