Chamizal National Memorial
The Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso is not a memorial of war or conflict, but one that marks the peaceful resolution of a long-standing international dispute.
The land known as: “El Chamizal” became contested in the mid-1800s when the Rio Grande shifted its course, changing the boundary between the United States and Mexico. What followed was a dispute that lasted over a century, as both countries laid claim to the land.
In 1963, the issue was resolved through diplomacy. The agreement, known as the Chamizal Convention, was signed by John F. Kennedy and Adolfo Lopez Mateos, marking a successful negotiation over a border conflict.
To commemorate this resolution, the site was established as a national memorial in 1974 and placed under the care of the National Park Service.
Chamizal does not focus on conflict, but on cooperation and shared history. This visitor center focuses on highlighting the story and the cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Mexico.
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