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Photograph of Union Depot
Photograph by Bonita de Boer, CC BY 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

El Paso Union Passenger Station

Built in 1906 (Neoclassical architecture). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

From the record

“El Paso Union Depot is an Amtrak train station in El Paso, Texas, served by the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited. The station was designed by architect Daniel Burnham, who also designed Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C., which was built between 1905 and 1906 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.”

Wikipedia article Union Depot (El Paso), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 56 National Register listings published here for El Paso County · listed in 1975 · category: Building · built in 1906, Neoclassical architecture, by Daniel Burnham.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. SW corner of Coldwell at San Francisco St., El Paso, 79901
  • When was it listed? April 1975
  • Category. building
  • Census division. El Paso
  • When was it built? 1906
  • Architectural style. Neoclassical architecture
  • Architect. Daniel Burnham
  • National Register reference number. 75001970 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

1 since 2000

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 1 fire within 5 miles of El Paso Union Passenger Station in 2000, burning under an acre in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
13 January 2000Smokingunder an acreChamizal National MonumentBERMUDA

Every fire recorded in El Paso County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 11 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 11 workings within 5 miles of El Paso Union Passenger Station: 9 producers, 2 plants. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Copper, Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
(Facility) El Paso Copper SmelterCopper, Sulfur, Sulfuric AcidPlant
(Facility) El Paso Lead SmelterLead, Smelter, Cadmium, Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid, ZincPlant
Ciudad Juarez Hf PltFluorine-FluoriteProducer
El Paso Quarry & PlantSilicaProducer
El Paso Sulfur PlantSulfurProducer
Edgar Park PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerGravel, Sand
Vowell Construction Company PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Courchesne QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
McKelligon Canyon QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Southwestern Cement PlantStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

Every working recorded in El Paso County

Storms near this property

60 of 72 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names El Paso, the town this property stands in, in 72 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 38 flash flood, 18 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 3 flood. The reports record 4 deaths and 29 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2021Flash FloodEl Paso2 killedFlash flooding occurred across central El Paso with a torrent of water flowing down the mountainside near Fort Blvd and Louisiana St. There was also significant water flow down Nashville St where two deaths were reported as a wall collapsed in the basement of a house and trapped a 2 year old and her 65 year old grandmother. Atlas Avenue just north of Chapin High School also had the road buckle with slabs of pavement missing. A rainfall report at the Wyler Tramway reported 4.65 of rain in a couple of hours which caused the flash flooding.
August 2002Flash FloodEl Paso1 killed, $200,000no account filed
August 1993Thunderstorm WindEl Paso1 killed, $50,000Strong thunderstorms developed over portions of eastern New Mexico and far west Texas ahead of an outflow boundary during the early afternoon. One of the storms moved south over southeastern portions of El Paso producing a downburst that struck Horizon City (12 miles southeast of El Paso) collapsing the frame of a house under construction. The damage was extremely localized and apparently enhanced by the orientation of a nearby house and mobile home. A construction worker suffered fatal injuries as the frame collapsed.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindEl Paso27 hurt, $125,000A thunderstorm caused a microburst, which destroyed three mobile homes, damaged about 30 others, and overturned a tractor-semitrailer. Twenty-seven people were injured (seven were taken to the hospital, another 20 were just slightly injured). The high winds also damaged or destroyed several storage sheds.
June 1999Flash FloodEl Paso1 hurt, $50,000Thunderstorms produced heavy rains in the Sparks area just south of Horizon City. The resulting flash flooding severely damaged roads and washed mobile homes off their foundation. One car was overturned as it attempted to cross a flooded arroyo, leaving one man injured.
September 1997FloodEl Paso1 hurtno account filed
September 2013Flash FloodEl Paso$2,400,000Street flooding was reported on the west side of Trans-Mountain Road with debris. Autos were having a difficult time driving through with a rock slide blocking westbound portions of the road at the mountain top. Several homes and streets in the Vinton and Westway area were flooded with several inches of water. There were reports of cars overturned in arroyos near Executive Drive. Rainfall amounts of over 3 inches were reported on the west side of El Paso through the morning into the early afternoon. An electrical explosion and building fire in Downtown El Paso were also blamed on the heavy rain. Interstate 10 near the Piedras exit had to be closed due to water crossing the interstate.
August 2004HailEl Paso$250,000A large amount of quarter size hail caused damage to hundreds of vehicles at several auto dealers on the east side of El Paso. As a result, "hail sales" appeared in newspaper ads in the following weeks.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindEl Paso$150,000An apparent wet microburst partially removed the roofs on three buildings in an apartment complex located in southeastern El Paso. There were no injuries, partly due to rain preceding the wind, forcing most people inside where they were not subject to being struck by flying roofing material.
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso$100,000Central El paso experienced flash flooding for the second day in a row. Three feet of water on streets in that section entered some residences. A Skywarn Spotter measured 1.86 inches of rain within 35 minutes in east El Paso. Flooding and water rescues took place throughout the city, but hardest hit were the central and eastern sections.
July 2000Flash FloodEl Paso$75,000Thunderstorms accompanied by an inch an a half of rain in a short time (including one report of an inch in 15 minutes) brought extensive street flooding to the downtown, central and eastern sections of the city. At least two lanes on Interstate 10 along with the access roads were closed, with water nearly 3 feet deep in some spots.
August 2007Flash FloodEl Paso$50,000About 2 inches of rain fell in less than an hour over the western and downtown portions of El Paso. This caused major street flooding with numerous car rescues required. Rock slides occurred and and a few vehicles were submerged.
July 1998LightningEl Paso$50,000Lightning struck a communications tower used for regional emergency communications, resulting in considerable electrical damage and producing a shutdown of the facility lasting several days.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindEl Paso$50,000The NWS measured 60 knot (69 mph) winds from a severe thunderstorm in El Paso. The winds knocked down trees and utility poles.
September 2009HailEl Paso$50,000no account filed
June 2001FloodEl Paso$30,000A series of thunderstorms dropped 2.5 inches of rain in an hour on west El Paso, and 3 inches on the northeast part of the city. This resulted in significant street flooding and numerous stalled vehicles. Numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes knocked out power to these same areas.
September 2005Flash FloodEl Paso$20,000A cluster of thunderstorms dropped 1.5 to 3 inches of rain on mainly east El Paso, where numerous water rescues were performed due to major street flooding.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindEl Paso$20,000A severe thunderstorm produced winds which took off one roof and damaged others. A wind gust of 59 mph was measured in the vicinity.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindEl Paso$10,000Social Media post of downed powerlines at Ft. Bliss.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindEl Paso$10,000First responders reported power lines down on houses.
July 2007Flash FloodEl Paso$10,000Rescue crews were busy due to high water levels at intersection of Robert E. Lee & Interstate 10, as well as with residential flooding on Ascarate Street where a canal overflowed. One man was swept away but then rescued with no serious injuries.
May 2007Flash FloodEl Paso$10,000Torrential rains led to flooded roads in many sections of El Paso. A roof collapsed in the northeast part of the city from the weight of accumulated rain water.
August 2005Flash FloodEl Paso$10,000Two to three inches of rain resulted in flooding from downtown El Paso to the eastern portion of the city.Several street closures were reported by law enforcement.
October 2002HailEl Paso$5,000A line of severe thunderstorms, including a low top supercell at the southern end of the line, moved rapidly eastward across northwestern El Paso. Quarter size hail from the supercell covered the ground to a depth of 3 inches in spots. There was also minor roof damage from gusty winds.
August 2005HailEl Paso$1,000no account filed
July 2025Flash FloodEl Paso-Social media post in the area showing multiple spots of standing and flowing water on roadways south of the airport.
July 2024Flash FloodEl Paso-Vehicle stalled due to high water with water rescue team on scene.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-Tree down at the intersection of Dyer and Haines Dr from Emergency Manager.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-Emergency Manager reported a tree had fallen on a power line near Fort Bliss.
September 2023HailEl Paso-Social media report showed hail up to the size of quarters near Fort Bliss.
August 2021Flash FloodEl Paso-Flash flooding occurred at the intersection of East Missouri Ave and Poplar St around the Chevron Gas Station. Vehicles were reported underwater.
May 2018Flash FloodEl Paso-Flooding reported off of I-10 on Gateway West and Geronimo in central El Paso.
August 2016Flash FloodEl Paso-Video from Manhattan Heights showed cars barely making it through deep, fast-moving water.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-Trees down at Copia and Alameda.
October 2015Flash FloodEl Paso-Flooding around US 54 and Montana in Central El Paso.
August 2015Flash FloodEl Paso-Fire department sent water rescue teams out for areas along Interstate 10 from around Bassett Center to Zaragoza. Gateway West was closed from Airway to Geronimo.
August 2014Flash FloodEl Paso-Numerous reports via Twitter and media showed Interstate 10 near Raynolds and the Spaghetti Bowl flooded with traffic at a standstill. A trained spotter reported 1.75 inches of rain near this area.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-Local media affiliate reported a 70mph wind gust at Ascarate Park.
July 2011Flash FloodEl Paso-Flooding was reported at the intersection of Trowbridge and Chelsea in Central El Paso.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-A wind gust of 60 mph was estimated at the El Paso Texas Department of Transportation building.
August 2007Flash FloodEl Paso-Street flooding occurred in the downtown and southwest portions of El Paso, with some intersections closed.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-A gust of 61 mph was measured at a media mesonet.
July 2007Flash FloodEl Paso-A few cars were stranded in high water, mainly around UTEP and downtown.
July 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Major street flooding occurred in central and northeast El Paso, and spread into west El Paso near UTEP.
July 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-The second in a wave of westward moving thunderstorms moved across El Paso, dropping heavy rain which resulted in a mudslide with debris blocking traffic on Mesa Street in west El Paso.
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-As much as 2.5 inches of rain within 50 minutes caused major street and arroyo flooding in central and west El Paso. Two feet of water covered streets in central El Paso.
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Significant street flooding occurred at some intersections in the western and downtown portions of El Paso.
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Significant street flooding took place in northeast and west El Paso, with a water rescue performed at Mesa and Glory Road (UTEP campus).
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Significant street flooding was reported in northeast El Paso.
August 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Major street flooding took place in the northeast and west portions of El Paso. A water rescue was performed at the intersection of Mesa and Glory Road.
September 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-Extensive street flooding occurred in portions of El Paso. TXDOT and weather spotters reported several roads under water and numerous stalled vehicles.
July 2006Flash FloodEl Paso-The third flood producing thunderstorm of the day for El Paso County caused flooding in central El Paso.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-Power lines were blown down in northeast El Paso.
September 2005Flash FloodEl Paso-Local newscast showed video of flooded streets with police officers closing intersections.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-An off-duty television meteorologist estimated winds gusting to 70 mph (wet microburst). A nearby mesonet site recorded a gust to 71 mph and 1.45 inches of rain in 40 minutes.
June 2000Flash FloodEl Paso-The southeast portion of the El Paso metro area experienced extensive street flooding from an intense downpour. A trucker had to be rescued from a stalled tractor-trailer, as all 4 lanes of Interstate 10 were flooded. Several streets in the area were washed out.
July 1999Flash FloodEl Paso-Heavy thunderstorm rains amounting to between one and two inches produced widespread urban and arroyo flooding on the east side of El Paso. There were numerous reports of stranded vehicles. Several vehicles were washed into a ravine in the lower valley. There were no injuries.
July 1999HailEl Paso-A spotter reported dime size hail in the north hills area of El Paso.
August 1999Flash FloodEl Paso-Thunderstorms produced heavy rains which caused street flooding in the Lower Valley and Downtown areas of El Paso. Several traffic accidents were attributed to the blinding rain and street flooding.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindEl Paso-A microburst knocked a mobile home off the foundation and blew off the roof in the Montana Vista area of far east El Paso.

Every storm recorded in El Paso County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Old San Francisco Historic District0.2 miles1985
Chamizal National Memorial0.3 miles1974
Plaza Theatre0.4 miles1987
Palace Theatre0.4 miles1980
Sunset Heights Historic District0.4 miles1988
Old Bnai Zion Synagogue0.4 miles1984

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 75001970 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
El Paso CountyAll 56 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.