Graffiti In El Paso Goes Way, Way Back

It didn’t start in El Paso with the invention of spray paint nor does it even require paint.

Mankind has had a need to mark significant events, preserve history, pass on knowledge and express creativity from pretty much day one.

Graffiti has been going on around El Chuco a loooooong time. It can be an artistic, sometimes beautiful way for folks to express themselves, commemorate special events or just brighten up a drab area.

It can also be stupid stuff like hate speech aimed at certain people, places and nationalities. It can be cute, (but stupid), stuff like “I love so and so” or it can be meant to promote a belief or group. Whatever its purpose, it’s roots in El Paso go deep.

What Kind Of Graffiti Is In El Paso?

From beautiful murals and designs to the letters representing local high schools on the mountains to the religious message on the mountain in Juarez, we got it all. That message, by the way, says “CD Juarez. La Biblia es la Verdad. Leela” which means “City of Juarez. The Bible is the Truth. Read It.” Written in letters made of painted rocks up to 164 feet high and over 300,000 square feet. Not the oldest graffiti around here but it’s the biggest.

The Newest & Oldest Graffiti In El Paso

I couldn’t pinpoint the youngest graffiti around here if I tried, new stuff goes up too fast. The oldest is easy though and you can see it for yourself, up close & personal, at Hueco Tanks.

The paintings there are among the oldest in the USA and make up the largest collection of ancient cave paintings in the world. Actual dates on the walls go back to the 1800’s but the oldest art goes back 10,000 years. Read more and view pics here.

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