Magoffin Home State Historical Site

Chris' turn. This past weekend was another crazy one. We both had a lot of school to conquer after an exhausting week. Chris surprised me by taking me to the Magoffin Home State Historical Site on Saturday afternoon. The Magoffin family were some of the first settlers to what is now El Paso. Joseph Magoffin ran just about every office in the city, as well as holding the mayoral position for four terms.

"The Magoffin Home, a Texas Historical Commission property, is located in downtown El Paso less than one mile from the U.S.–Mexico border. The state of Texas and the city of El Paso purchased and opened the home to the public in 1977. The home is part of the Magoffin Historic District and is one of the oldest surviving adobe structures in the area. It reflects the lives of a prominent early El Paso family.

Numerous authentic artifacts including furniture, textiles, photographs, art and documents are on display in the home. These are supplemented with period pieces to give a more complete view of what the home looked like in different time periods.

The 1.5-acre site offers a glimpse of the past as visitors explore its lovely grounds and renovated rooms. The historical significance of the home lies in its unique architecture and in the history of the Magoffins and their descendants who lived in the home for more than 100 years. A multicultural family, they were active and influential participants in their community, served during military conflicts and witnessed important historic events. Their 1875 home is a prime example of Territorial style architecture and features a center courtyard and peaceful landscape."
- http://www.visitmagoffinhome.com/index.aspx?page=601

Needless to say, the home was beautiful. Even though it was in downtown El Paso, it seemed like an oasis. The property was quiet and beautiful. Our tour lasted a little over an hour and we were the only two in attendance. Everything was beautifully preserved and restored. Some of the furniture was incredibly intricate. It was a perfect afternoon date!