Stories from the Chamizal Library

Upload in Progress - interviews should be uploaded by the end of June 2026

The Chamizal area is a very important part of El Paso’s history. Named after the chamizo plant (the Fourwing Saltbush), which grew abundantly along the Rio Grande, the Chamizal has been home to thousands of people over the past century. In the spring of 2026, a group of UTEP graduate students began interviewing current and past residents of the Chamizal area about their families, education, work, and living in the area. The project came from a conversation between the Chamizal Express Library and the Institute of Oral History at UTEP. We are grateful to the individuals who shared their memories and stories with us.