Hotel Plaza and Kress Building

The image shows the buildings on the southeastern side of San Jacinto Plaza. The Plaza was built in 1930 as the Hilton Hotel. The seventeen story structure combined semi-modernistic lines with Indian designs. The tower was roofed with green terra cotta tile. The interior areas were luxury decorated and the rooms mirrored the state of the art, featuring fully electric lighting, ceiling fans, radios and private bathrooms. It served as one of El Paso's most luxurious hotels; even Elisabeth Taylor briefly lived here in 1950/51. In 1963 it became the Plaza Hotel and operated until 1991. The Kress building might be the funkiest building in town. The former 5-and-10 store opened in 1938 and was designed by company architect Edward Sibbert (who regarded it as his favorite in the national chain). Dilapidated and threatened with receivership, this beauty once racked up the chain’s highest annual sales tally.

Creator: Victor Ramirez

Area: Central / Downtown

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History