El Paso is the oldest city in Texas. Located in western Texas, at the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, and along the Rio Grande River, El Paso embodies the idea that everything in Texas is big. When European settlers first formed a community in El Paso in 1581, the original plan was to imitate a typical high-society European city. Haciendas and roads were built but the colonization antagonized the natives. Military garrisons and army posts were set up to protect the pioneers from hostile Apaches. A couple of centuries came and went and downtown El Paso transformed into a gathering place of cattle rustlers and gunfighters. Saloons lined the streets as courageous marshals and rangers, on the side of the law, attempted to establish peace and order in the community.
The good guys won the battle and Downtown El Paso became a center of commerce and culture. Today, it is proud of its artistic triumphs, such as the Fray Garcia Statue, the Vaquero Statue, the Boxers' Mural, and the Sacred Heart Mural. Downtown El Paso also encourages many artists with its El Paso Museum of Art, the Arts Festival Plaza, and the Creative Kids Olo Gallery. Downtown El Paso also supports sports, particularly boxing. There are several sports gyms, including the Escalante Boxing Gym, the training site of the famous Oscar De La Hoya and the home of Golden Boy Promotions.
Besides arts and sports, Downtown El Paso is also a place to shop, eat, and party. Downtown shopping is exciting with more than 300 stores, from big sprawling malls to specialty gift shops, from fashion boutiques to local markets. Downtown dining is satisfying with bakeries, cafes, steakhouses, and grill restaurants. And Downtown El Paso partying is endless with numerous clubs, bars, pubs, and lounges.
