People and Events that forged the Pass to the North

While Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts is celebrated for the Pilgrims' landing in 1620, El Paso'sstory stretches further into the past. In 1598, Spanish explorers held a Thanksgiving mass onthe banks of the Rio Grande22 years before the Pilgrims famed landing. El Paso and its surrounding region have been shaped by a rich tapestry of historical events,marked by the struggles, hopes, and sacrifices of people from many different backgrounds. Theirstories continue to fill the chapters of this singular city, located at the heart of the borderlands