El Paso’s history is full of staples and anecdotes. It is no surprise that cowboy boots are highlighted throughout the history of the borderland, as the region is part of the Wild West. This week, the El Paso Museum of History will be offering an event that celebrates exactly that with live music and snacks.
“This is basically an event to network, socialize and enjoy the museum,” said Marilu Aleman, marketing coordinator of the El Paso Museum of History. “Sometimes people don’t see museums as fun or they can’t even imagine having this type of events at a museum. This is the reason we are doing this event. The name is just a description of some of the things we will have during the event.”
The wine and cheese event accompanies the exhibit “Made in El Paso: The Traditions, Influence and Legacy of El Paso’s Cowboy Boots.” The exhibit was created by the Tom Lea Institute as a component of their Tom Lea Month celebration, which will be open to the public until Jan. 3, 2016.
The El Paso Museum of History is hosting this exhibit as a way to let people know the importance and the legacy that cowboy boots had and continue to have in the region.
The show lets the public know how El Paso boots are made and who are the hands that are behind this product. This exhibit also displays boot makers’ stories, photographs, examples of contemporary and historic boot work, and even examples of winning boots that came from a design contest, where EPCC and UTEP students participated.
According to Aleman, the city of El Paso is the “Cowboy Boot Capitol of the World,” and she considers this exhibit an important event for El Pasoans because of the boots’ his-tory.
“Boot makers have been an important part of El Paso’s history for more than 100 years,” Aleman said.
During their wine and cheese event at the museum, people will be able to learn about the Lucchese handicraftsmen, their history of making cowboy boots and how this El Paso icon is made. It will also host a 20-minute talk and demonstration that will consist of a demo offered by one of the boot makers from the city
The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 19 at the El Paso Museum of History, located on 510 N. Santa Fe St. It is open for the public with different admission costs.
People who are members of the museum will be able to buy their tickets for $6, non-museum members can buy tickets for $10. A cash wine bar will also be available for adults 21 years of age and older.
The event will bring people together to enjoy some live music, wine, and cheese, and at the same time they will be able to learn an important aspect of the history of the city.
“It is about the history of cowboy boots, the processes of making a boot and famous people that have worn cowboy boots made in El Paso from our local boot factories,” Aleman said. “Learn, network and have fun.”
For more information about the museum event and the exhibit “Made in El Paso: The Traditions, Influence and Legacy of El Paso’s Cowboy Boots,” visit history.elpasotexas.gov, or email [email protected], or call 915-351-3588.
Fernanda Leon may be reached at [email protected].
