Letters and Bibles El Paso, Texas

The surge of population headed to California for the 1849 Gold Rush got the attention of the United States Post Office. By 1850, a mail courier on horseback carried letters between San Antonio and El Paso, and then up to Santa Fe. San Diego and stagecoaches were added by 1857. Railroad service over the same routes opened in 1881, with airmail arriving in 1930. The mail remained the least expensive way to correspond – compared to long distance telephone – until the advent of e-mail. For those families professing a Christian faith, the family Bible was a keepsake. Bibles are traditionally printed with record pages. Major life events such as births and marriages that are recognized in church ritual are listed there. Bibles not only provided comfort and direction, but contained family history.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History