National Register of Historic Places

Hueco Tanks

El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Listed
July 13, 1971
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
71000930

About this property

Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is an 860-acre (350 ha) state park, National Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places site in El Paso County, Texas, United States approximately 32 miles (51 km) northeast of central El Paso. The land was obtained from the county by special deed on June 12, 1969, and by purchase of 121 acres (49 ha) additional land on August 10, 1970. This site was opened to the public in May 1970 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The park is named for the large natural rock basins or "huecos" that have furnished a supply of trapped rainwater to dwellers and travelers in this arid region of west Texas for millennia. Hueco Tanks is an area of low mountains located in a high-altitude desert basin between the Franklin Mountains to the west and the Hueco Mountains to the east. Hueco is a Spanish word meaning "hollows" and refers to the many water-holding depressions in the boulders and rock faces throughout the region. Due to the unique concentration of historic artifacts, plants and wildlife, the site is under protection of Texas law; it is a crime to remove, alter, or destroy them. The park consists of three syenite (a weak form of granite) mountains. It is culturally and spiritually significant to many Native Americans. This significance is partially manifested in the pictographs (rock paintings) that can be found throughout the region, many of which are thousands of years old.

Location

El Paso, El Paso County, Texas

Categories

PREHISTORICHISTORIC - ABORIGINALAGRICULTUREARTTRANSPORTATION
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Hueco Tanks listed on the National Register?

Hueco Tanks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Hueco Tanks?

Hueco Tanks is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hueco Tanks?

The period of significance for Hueco Tanks is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Hueco Tanks?

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