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The historic city center of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, is just a short walk across the bridge from El Paso, Texas. We decided to cross over and spend a few hours checking it out.
Calle 16 de Septiembre
After crossing the bridge, we walked a few blocks south to Calle 16 de Septiembre, where we visited the Museum of the Revolution on the Borderlands (MUREF), which is covered in a separate post. From there, we walked west down the pedestrianized Calle 16 de Septiembre another block until we came to Plaza de Armas.
Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is a lively square in the heart of Ciudad Juárez. In the center is a fountain with a statue as well as a gazebo. There are plenty of places to sit and people watch.
In addition, there are plenty of street vendors sell all kinds of goods, including snacks, ice cream, photos, toys, and more. Locals of all ages were there enjoying the sunny weather. Adults were conversing while children took the opportunity to play.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The largest building on Plaza de Armas is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). It was consecrated in 1941 and completed in 1957. The modern cathedral contains beautiful stained glass windows on the left aisle.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission
To the left is the much smaller and more modest Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). It was founded on December 8, 1659, by Friar García de San Francisco for a community of about 400 natives. The mission later served natives fleeing New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
The current building was consecrated on January 23, 1668. It’s attached to the cathedral and features beautiful wooden vigas (beams) supporting the ceiling as well as a wooden choir loft.
Statue of Friar García de San Francisco
A statue of Friar García de San Francisco, who is considered the founder of Ciudad Juárez, stands outside the entrance to the mission. The city was known as El Paso del Norte until 1888.
Municipal Palace
A block behind the cathedral is the Municipal Palace (Palacio Municipal), which once served as city hall. The building dates back to the late 19th century and has a beautiful façade. It features black volcanic stones and an ornate entry.
Before it was built, a fort stood on the site. It housed troops protecting travelers on the Camino Real from Apache raids. Treaties with the Apaches were signed there, and it was the seat of civil authority for over 300 years. Today, it houses the Municipal Center for the Arts (Centro Municipal de las Artes).
Cuauhtémoc Market
Opposite the Municipal Palace is the Cuauhtémoc Market (Mercado Cuauhtémoc). This public market building originally opened in 1906. It stands on the former site of San Pablo Bullring (Plaza de Toros San Pablo), and is a great place to try an authentic local meal and see where many citizens of Ciudad Juárez do their shopping.
Kentucky Club
When we finished in the historic city center of Ciudad Juárez, we started walking back to the border. We popped into the Kentucky Club, which has been open since 1920, for a quick meal.
The Kentucky Club was opened two years into prohibition, when a distillery from Kentucky decided to open a legal operation south of the border. The owners went all out, ordering a wooden bar back all the way from France. Famous visitors include Al Capone, Ronald Reagan, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and Bob Dylan.
I had some decent enchiladas and washed them down with a margarita. The Kentucky Club claims to be the birthplace of the margarita. Legend has it that a bartender, Lorenzo Hernández, invented the drink for a patron named Margarita.
Crossing Back
After our lunch, we walked the couple blocks back to the international bridge and crossed back into Texas. It was an enjoyable few hours in Ciudad Juárez.
