Photograph from the 1920 Peace and Progress Excursion

Photograph from the 1920 Peace and Progress Excursion

Peace and Progress Excursion to Mexico City, photo album 1920 59-341-1 In 1909, the Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico was integrated into the greater Pacific Railroad in the United States. Railway operations increased travel from Mazatlán, Sinaloa in Southern Mexico to Nogales, Sonora in Northern Mexico, connecting with the Sunset Route in southwest United States directly into Arizona. This allowed railway travel to transcend borders causing a greater influx of people, goods, and commerce between the U.S. and Mexico. Making use of the newly connected railways, Mexican President Álvaro Obregón visited El Paso the first week of October in 1920 on his way to the International Fair in Dallas, Texas. He expressed his aspirations for international friendship and diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a result of Obregon’s visit the “Paz y Progreso” or “Peace and Progress” Excursions were commissioned by the Confederation of Chamber of Commerce. On October 10, 1920, the El Paso Chamber of Commerce set out for Mexico City by train. The trip entailed visiting a number of smaller towns on the way to Mexico City, such as Zacatecas and Aguascalientes. In January of 1921, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Peace and Progress Excursion traveled through California to Mexico by train to meet with President Álvaro Obregón. The Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico was eventually sold to the Mexican government in 1951. The railroad boom of the 19th century ushered in a new and tranformative era for transportation, technology, and economy in America—one that swept the Paso del Norte region along with it. As the railroad industry flourished, El Paso began cultivating a unique economy and culture, one heavily influenced by its location along the border and the route between four major cities (Mexico City, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, and San Antonio). True to its name, El Paso became a gateway for the Southern half of the United States. In Tracks Across the Desert, we explore the people, groups, and railroad giants that shaped El Paso into the city it is today. This exhibit is generously funded by Union Pacific.

Area: Out of Area / Out of Area

Source: El Paso Museum of History

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Robert Lujan - 1953

Robert Lujan in Korea in the year 1953. Resident of El Paso, ...

Margarita Atilano - 1947

Margarita Atilano at the age of sixteen - in Juarez, Mexico in ...

Margarita Atilano - 1944

Margarita Atilano at the age of thirteen -- in Juarez.

Pedro Lerma Sr. & Jovita Nicasio Lerma

Wedding photograph in the 1940's of Mr & Mrs. Pedro Lerma Sr.

Race - Track - Cleveland - 1970

Winners Circle - Apolonio Valenzuela is the jockey in the middle ...

Ismael 'Milo' Valenzuela - 1958

Milo won his first Kentucky Derby in 1958 on Tim Tam. Milo is ...

Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela - 1968

Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela holds the trophy after winning the ...

Joe & Polo Valenzuela - 1965

Joe & Polo Valenzuela in 1965 -- photograph taken in Juarez.

Saleemah & Savannah

Daughter & Grandaughter

Beautiful Mural on Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Most popular murals of Segundo Barrio, This mural has so much ...

Segundo Barrio

The famous "Segundo Barrio" mural Painted 8-5-75

Balderas

I came across a small functioning building that looks beat down, ...

1966 Texas Western Players

Celebration at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland, site ...

1966 Texas Western Team Players

Celebration at Cole Field House, College Park, Maryland on ...

Final Four Houston 2016

Richard Daniel, VP of the UTEP Alumni Association and Joe Gomez, ...

Final Four in Houston 2016

Tina Hill, Michelle Hill, Jordan Sheffield and Joe Gomez at ...

Final Four Houston 2016

Joe Gomez with the three Texas Western Basketball team captains, ...

The Woman's Club of El Paso - 1919

American women gain the right to vote! Passed by Congress on ...

THE MORGAN CLAN. July 1995

James R Morgan, Anna M Morgan, Johnnie, McCarthy, James "Fluff", ...

Joe Gomez with El Paso's Jennifer Han World Champion

Jennifer Han and Joe Gomez after her induction into the El Paso ...

Harper Baylor Lee - 1910

GILLETT, JAMES HARPER [HARPER BAYLOR LEE] (1884–1941). James ...

Blue Angels Flight Team - 1955

Blue Angels Flight Team - Date taken - 9-12-55 - NAS Pensacola, ...

Banquet Offered By General Orozco - 1912

Banquet Offered By General Pascual Orozco - to Juan Sarabia.

home.search_collection