Montana Avenue Historic District

Montana Avenue in El Paso, Texas, was developed as a residential street in the Franklin Heights Addition, at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains about a mile northeast of downtown. The district covers six continuous blocks with 104 resources, of which 69 contribute, including 51 houses, two churches and 13 garages. Two-story brick houses in Prairie, Classical Revival and Queen Anne styles dominate, and each accounts for about a quarter of the housing. Front porches, uniform setbacks, stone retaining walls and original concrete curbs and sidewalks give the streets a cohesive look. The neighborhood was nearly built out by 1910. Its location near the rail lines, its brick construction using materials and ornament shipped by railroad, and its changing architectural fashions illustrate El Paso's early 20th century boom. Over time, many homes were converted to apartments and professional offices, yet most still keep their residential character.