**San Elizario was the first county seat in El Paso County and had the first Commissioners Court. We claim the First Thanksgiving in Texas (23 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock). We are also the site of the Salt War which resulted in Texas Rangers being jailed in the 1850 jail (imported from Chicago Ilinois). Billy the Kid also broke into the jail to free his friend.

Our events include a History Conference, a Founders Day Luncheon in September, and a Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony in November (we claim it is the largest in El Paso County). San Elzear is the Patron Saint of soldiers and we honor our soldiers, and veterans. The names of the WWII veterans are even listed inside the church. On the third Saturday of December, we also have a combination Luminaria/Posada/Bicycle giveaway. We have over 2000 luminarias around the Portales and Jail Museums, the kiosko, the church and surrounding areas. There is a Posada (a reenactment of Mary & Joseph looking for shelter) which includes a live donkey (sometimes a mule). Then we have a pinata, folklorico dancers and a bicycle/toy giveaway with Santa Clause sometimes arriving in a firetruck. We also plan to have an art contest for area students and want to give out prizes.

We have also undertaken the task of cleaning up the San Elizario Cemetery, under the guidance of Luis Tellez, member, and volunteer. We plan to install lights soon and repair the damaged fence. The cleaning of trash and weeds is done on a regular basis.

Even though the County funds the museums, there are some items not covered by the grant. The website, the Founders Day Luncheon, the bicycle giveaway, the art contest prizes and the cemetery clean-up are examples of funds we have to raise ourselves.**