Palace Theatre
Why it's listed
Opened on August 1, 1914, at a cost of $150,000, this three-story brick theatre at 209 South El Paso Street was designed by the firm Trost and Trost and first known as the Alhambra. Built to serve as either a live playhouse or a movie house, it originally had a large organ to accompany silent films. Its main facade features a projecting bay divided by columns and pilasters, topped by a deep cornice of Moorish arches. Plaster tracery of interlocking geometric and foliate motifs, along with Islamic script, covers the wall surfaces and gives an Eastern character. The ground floor has been altered, but much original material appears to remain beneath modern coverings. Inside, the lobby repeats the column-supported arches, and the auditorium has a balcony, opera boxes and seats believed to be original. It is regarded as Henry Trost's only Spanish Colonial design with Moorish influences, and it came before the 1920s popularity of that style. It continues to operate as a movie theatre.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of architect Henry Trost's most extraordinary stylistic expressions, with a facade of plaster arabesques and Islamic script. It is thought to be his only Spanish Colonial design with Moorish influences, and it predates the 1920s vogue for that style. It also served the film industry for most of its history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80004109, listed September 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 209 S. El Paso St., El Paso |
|---|---|
| County | El Paso County |
| Listed | September 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004109 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Trost and Trost |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival/Moorish |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in operation as a movie house; the ground floor has been altered, though much original fabric appears to be concealed beneath modern materials. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.75712, -106.48919 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80004109.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4724447
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.