National Border Patrol Museum facts for kids
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Established | 1985 |
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Location | 4315 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive El Paso, Texas |
The National Border Patrol Museum is located at 4315 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive, in the county of El Paso, in the U.S. state of Texas.
The museum was established by a 1979 vote of the Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol Officers. The State of Texas issued its incorporation certificate in 1980 as a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization. Its first location from 1985 to 1992 was the Cortez Building in El Paso. From 1992 to 1994, museum artifacts were in storage awaiting construction of a new building. The current 10,000 square feet (930 m2) space opened its doors in 1994, and is located on 2 acres (0.81 ha; 0.0031 sq mi) of land northeast of El Paso.
This is the only museum solely honoring the Border Patrol, and artifacts cover the agency's entire history. Among the exhibits are weapons and vehicles used, including helicopters. There is a border patrol dog exhibit, an art exhibit and an exhibit of officer badges. Depicted are various methods used by individuals to cross the border between Mexico and the United States.
In 2019, protesters wheatpasted photos of individuals harmed by the Border Patrol over exhibitions honoring the fallen officers of the Border Patrol.
Membership fees, private and corporation donations, and the purchase of memorial bricks help fund the museum.
The museum is adjacent to the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at the base of the Franklin Mountains, surrounded by the Castner Range National Monument.