Merrick Building and Camino Real

The picture was taken in El Paso Street, showing the Merrick building, the old El Paso del Norte Hotel and the adjacent Camino Real tower. The Merrick Building dates back to 1887. The design was typical of Victorian style brick homes of the time. Charles Merrick who was a famous clothier and tailor in El Paso operated his business out of the first floor of the building. During the Mexican Revolution it was turned into a major arms dealership. In 1931, the Hollywood Cafe replaced the arms store. The St. Charles Hotel was operated on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building and only closed in 1996. Today a retail store operates on the first floor and the rooms of the Hotel have been converted into apartments. The Camino Real Hotel was built in 1912 by Henry C. Trost as the Paso del Norte. The elegant hotel was marked by its Tiffany glass dome, steel, glass and terra cotta. The tower was added later.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Leo Miletich

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History