Concordia Cemetery

Concordia Cemetery is the most vivid Wild West site in El Paso. Founded in 1856, it holds tens of thousands of burials across dozens of acres of desert, and its monuments, iron fences and weathered stones tell the story of the city from the earliest days. Among the best-known graves is that of John Wesley Hardin, the notorious gunfighter who was shot dead in an El Paso saloon in 1895 by lawman John Selman, who is also buried here after being killed in a gunfight the following year. Around them lie Buffalo Soldiers, Civil War veterans, Chinese railroad workers, Jewish and Catholic sections, mayors, merchants and unmarked paupers. The cemetery sits in a historic neighborhood near the freeway, and it has been the focus of a long volunteer restoration effort.

A visit is best done with a guide. The Concordia Heritage Association leads walking tours and special events, such as evening lantern walks and Day of the Dead programs, that link graves to stories of outlaws, soldiers, immigrants and families. On your own you can follow printed maps or signs, but the grounds are large, uneven and exposed, and without context many stones are only names. A guide explains the different sections, the Buffalo Soldier memorial, the Hardin and Selman graves, the segregated plots and the relationship between the cemetery and the city's growth.

Plan for the weather and the setting. Shade is limited, the ground can be rough and the sun is intense, so wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and bring water. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for photography and comfort. Be respectful of the graves, staying on paths and leaving stones and offerings as you found them. Check the association's website for tour schedules and events before you go; tours are often seasonal and may require reservations, and the grounds may be locked outside posted hours.

The cemetery pairs naturally with a downtown day or an evening ghost walk. The Magoffin Home and the Plaza Theatre tell the story of the living city in the same era, while Concordia tells it through the people who built and fought for it. Visitors who enjoy history will find it a moving place, and those interested in Wild West legends can stand at the graves of two men whose lives ended in one of the region's most famous gunfights.

Give yourself an hour for a quick visit and two or more for a full guided tour.

If you join a tour, ask the guide about the different communities buried here, including soldiers, immigrants and families whose descendants still live in El Paso. Look for the changes in headstone style across the decades, the symbols of fraternal orders and the handmade markers that show how families remembered their dead when they could not afford stone. Consider donating to the heritage association, whose volunteers maintain a large and fragile site.

Visit with respect, avoid stepping on graves and leave the site as you found it. Bring a hat, water and a charged phone for photographs and navigation, and consider a visit on a cloudy day for softer light and more comfortable walking. Respect closures and fences around fragile areas.