Mt. Cristo Rey
Monte Cristo Rey

Mt. Cristo Rey

The statue Christ the King was inspired by a papal call for mementos of the 1900th anniversary of the coming of Christ. The project was begun at the behest of Father Lourdes Costa, pastor of the Smeltertown parish. Costa got funding from the Diocese of El Paso to purchase 200 acres for the statue and to build a cross. The statue is 40 feet (12 m) tall including a 9-foot (2.7 m) base and is composed of concrete, steel and Cordovan cream limestone which was quarried near Austin, Texas. The blocks were chosen by sculptor Urbici Soler and winched up the mountain. Soler carved it on-site with an air chisel. The head of the statue is elongated so that the figure appears of natural proportions when viewed from below. The statue is not technically a crucifix, as the palms of Christ face downward in a gesture of blessing. The statue was completed in 1939 and dedicated in 1940. The diocese ran short of money, but Soler completed the front of the statue with his own funds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbici_Soler_i_Manonelles

Area: Upper Valley / Mt. Cristo Rey

Source: El Paso County HIstorical Society

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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this is so cool i want too go see the mountain of cristo rey

awesome

stay with god forever

I always enjoy my weekend hikes up there :)

viva Cristo Rey!

it was a very special hike with my family

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