National Border Patrol Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Location | 4315 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
| Owner | Border Patrol Museum and Memorial Library Foundation |
The National Border Patrol Museum is a special museum in El Paso, Texas. It is the only museum in the world that tells the story of the U.S. Border Patrol. The U.S. Border Patrol is a government agency that secures the borders of the United States. This museum helps visitors learn about the agency's long history.
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What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum is filled with interesting items that show how the Border Patrol has worked over the years. The collection covers the agency's entire history, from when it started to the present day.
Exhibits and Collections
Inside the museum, you can see many different exhibits.
- Vehicles and Equipment: There are displays of the cars, helicopters, and other vehicles that agents have used. You can also see weapons and tools from different time periods.
- Officer Badges: A special display shows how the badges worn by Border Patrol officers have changed over time.
- K-9 Unit: An exhibit is dedicated to the brave dogs that work with the Border Patrol.
- Art and History: The museum also has an art exhibit and displays showing different ways people have tried to cross the border.
The museum is a nonprofit organization, which means it uses the money it receives to keep running and to teach the public. It is located near the El Paso Museum of Archaeology at the bottom of the Franklin Mountains.
History of the Museum
The idea for the museum came from a group of retired Border Patrol officers. They voted to create it in 1979.
Finding a Home
The museum was officially created in 1980. It first opened in 1985 in a building in downtown El Paso. After a few years, the museum's collection was put into storage while a new, bigger building was constructed.
In 1994, the museum opened in its current location. The building is 10,000 square feet (930 m2) and sits on 2 acres (0.81 ha; 0.0031 sq mi) of land.
A Place for Different Views
In 2019, a group of protesters visited the museum. They put up pictures near an exhibit that honors fallen officers. The protesters did this to share their own views about the work of the Border Patrol.
See also
