This weekend was El Paso history weekend for me. I went to the El Paso Historical Society to do a little digging into my family's history, and then I decided to check out the Magoffin Home.

I've been to the Magoffin Home a number of times, but it never ceases to fascinate me, so I keep going back. The latest innovation to the Magoffin Home is a visitors center where you buy your admission tickets and watch a three minute video on the history of the Magoffin family and the home.

Yes. You have to pay to get in. It's a historic home that needs a lot of upkeep, and if you're willing to pay money for bottled water, don't complain about paying to get into the Magoffin Home.

The Magoffin family has been in the El Paso area since around 1856, and for a while, the area was called Magoffinsville. Joseph Magoffin, who built the Magoffin Home in 1877, was instrumental in bringing railroads, utilities and new businesses to town. He was a co-founder of the State National Bank and served as its vice president for 40 years. He was also a county judge, a four-time mayor, and held other public offices. His wife Octavia was no slouch herself. She was very active in the community and active in Catholic charities. They had two children, Jim (1864–1913) and Josephine Magoffin Glasgow (1873–1968).

The tour of the Magoffin Home is eye-opening because it is such a step back in time as to how families lived in the area before the railroads came along and the town went from 700 people to 70,000 in just a few years. You can get tour information, as well as activities like free monthly yoga classes and cooking classes, on the Home's Facebook page.

Here are some of my favorite photos of the Magoffin Home:

1. Entrance to Magoffin Home:

Patricia Martinez
Patricia Martinez
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2. Closer entrance view:

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Patricia Martinez
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2. Front entry hall:

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Patricia Martinez
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3. Fireplace front entry hall:

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Patricia Martinez
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4. Front room:

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Patricia Martinez
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5. Piano in front room:

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Patricia Martinez
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6. Dining Room:

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Patricia Martinez
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7. Portion of exposed adobe:

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Patricia Martinez
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8. Octavia's bedroom:

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Patricia Martinez
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9. Joseph's bedroom:

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Patricia Martinez
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