Photograph from the 1920 Peace and Progress Excursion

Photograph from the 1920 Peace and Progress Excursion

Peace and Progress Excursion to Mexico City, photo album 1920 59-341-1 In 1909, the Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico was integrated into the greater Pacific Railroad in the United States. Railway operations increased travel from Mazatlán, Sinaloa in Southern Mexico to Nogales, Sonora in Northern Mexico, connecting with the Sunset Route in southwest United States directly into Arizona. This allowed railway travel to transcend borders causing a greater influx of people, goods, and commerce between the U.S. and Mexico. Making use of the newly connected railways, Mexican President Álvaro Obregón visited El Paso the first week of October in 1920 on his way to the International Fair in Dallas, Texas. He expressed his aspirations for international friendship and diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a result of Obregon’s visit the “Paz y Progreso” or “Peace and Progress” Excursions were commissioned by the Confederation of Chamber of Commerce. On October 10, 1920, the El Paso Chamber of Commerce set out for Mexico City by train. The trip entailed visiting a number of smaller towns on the way to Mexico City, such as Zacatecas and Aguascalientes. In January of 1921, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Peace and Progress Excursion traveled through California to Mexico by train to meet with President Álvaro Obregón. The Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico was eventually sold to the Mexican government in 1951. The railroad boom of the 19th century ushered in a new and tranformative era for transportation, technology, and economy in America—one that swept the Paso del Norte region along with it. As the railroad industry flourished, El Paso began cultivating a unique economy and culture, one heavily influenced by its location along the border and the route between four major cities (Mexico City, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, and San Antonio). True to its name, El Paso became a gateway for the Southern half of the United States. In Tracks Across the Desert, we explore the people, groups, and railroad giants that shaped El Paso into the city it is today. This exhibit is generously funded by Union Pacific.

Area: Out of Area / Out of Area

Source: El Paso Museum of History

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Elephant Butte Dam

The Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico was completed in 1916. The ...

J. J. Armes and J. J. Armes III

J. J. Armes and his son on vacation. Jay J. Armes was born ...

J. J. Armes, Chuck Norris, J. J. Armes III

J. J. Armes, Chuck Norris, J. J. Armes III in the year 1985. ...

J. J. Armes Being Interviewed

I had met Marlon Brando in my younger years when I was working ...

Marlon Brando, Linda Armes, and J. J. Armes

J. J. Armes, Linda Armes, and Marlon Brando. I had met Marlon ...

Pancho Villa and The Columbus Raid

Pancho Villa and The Columbus Raid, by Larry A. Harris. ...

Brick Kiln

This is believed to be a brick kiln out in the desert. El Paso ...

Adobe Buildings

These buildings might be located on either side of the river. ...

Barrio

This community appears to be built on the flat land near the ...

Irrigation Canal.

There appears to be a number of ruined adobe walls in this ...

Horno

The central feature in this photograph is the horno, the outside ...

Goat Pens

Goats provided milk and meat, but do not eat as much as cows. ...

Outside of Adobe Home - Circa - 1900

Girls in front of adobe structure and water pump. Note the bird ...

Irrigation canal

Irrigation canal somewhere in the El Paso/Juarez area.

Irrigation Canal

Irrigation canal somewhere in El Paso or Ciudad Juarez.

Burros Carrying Wood

Burros carrying firewood could be found in both Ciudad Juarez ...

Performing For The C.I.A.

Rosa Guerrero dancers performing for the CIA - Washington, D.C. ...

Braceros leaving for El Paso

The image shows braceros on a truck, leaving Chihuahua City for ...

Skydiving promo for Nabisco over White Sands, NM

Allowed access to take off from Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, ...

End of skydive over White Sands, NM

Skydiver tracking away from formation after a jump by White ...

1st Lt. Micki Duran with USMC

My daughter Micki Duran flying a helicopter. So proud of our ...

El Capitan

Scenic aerial view of El Capitan peak in the Guadalupe Mountains ...

home.search_collection