A City Defined by a Mountain: An Observational Analysis of Quarry Stone Usage Patterns in Central El Paso, Texas Subdivisions

Stone construction can be traced back to most early civilizations worldwide. The availability of stone as a resource has been a part of many cultures, from the ancient pyramids of Giza to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Along the Upper Rio Grande Valley in the Southwest, at the crossroads of the Rio Grande and the Franklin Mountains, lies the City of El Paso, Texas, a melting pot of diverse construction methods and architectural styles. The influence of the Pueblo tribes are evident in early Spanish architecture found in the area along with the midwest and eastern coastal architectural influences that arrived in El Paso with the railroad The study that follows explores the intertwining of cultures through the “rock walls” that line the streets of El Paso. Stone is a natural resource found in the area, but it is difficult to harvest. The emergence of the school of mines alongside the growth of the smelter industry created quarries in the area that used stone as a byproduct that eventually staked its claim on almost every neighborhood in the region. While other cities have their masonry influence and a touted lineage of masons, the El Paso area has been defined by the piedreros who have left their mark over countless decades, utilizing stone construction in buildings, erosion control, privacy walls, and as an aesthetic element. Three neighborhoods in Central El Paso have been analyzed using a rubric-based inventory method, in which observations and photographs show the extent to which stone construction has affected the footprint of this city. The inventory practices are informed by a brief archaeological study of the area, which reveals how the Franklin Mountains have influenced the type of material used for stonework in this region.