In 1854, El Paso was a small village of adobe houses. They were scattered along an old trail called the Alameda, stretching from Pioneer Plaza to the river crossing, a segment of the ancient Camino Real highway from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Anson Mills came to El Paso before the Civil War, and platted, in June of 1859, what is now the downtown area.

The original downtown commercial district was formed in 1885. By 1990, this business core began to migrate north and east, around San Jacinto Plaza and on to San Antonio, Texas, and Mills streets. The 1910s, 20s, and 30s were the decades of constructing major buildings which are still part of the El Paso skyline. Through World War II and into the 50s, downtown remained secure as El Paso's business and financial center. In the years that followed World War II, the downtown experienced a period of decline due to several factors.

In a move to strengthen downtown's hold as a financial and governmental center, new buildings were erected during the 60s and 70s. New bank high rises were constructed at the corner of Main and Mesa, and Mills, Stanton, and Texas. A new City Hall and Civic Center took several blocks between W. Missouri, Santa Fe, Durango, and San Antonio streets. An 18-story office building was erected in the half-block between Stanton, Kansas and Myrtle streets. A new Federal building, a County Jail, and current construction on the County building, all on east San Antonio Street, complete this building phase. These buildings were designed in the architectural idiom of their time, altering the character of the historic downtown core.

In the 1980s several historic landmarks were restored or rehabilitated. The last two decades have seen further improvements and new construction marking the steady restoration of Downtown El Paso to it’s prior grandeur.

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