History of Kern Place
Kern Place was the vision of Peter E. Kern, a jeweler, adventurer, and entrepreneur who arrived in El Paso in 1881. After years of civic involvement and land acquisition, Kern purchased the former Ascarate and McKelligon tracts in the early 1900s, intending to create a unique residential community unlike any other in the region. In 1914, he officially began development of Kern Place, marketing it as El Paso’s first true “garden suburb,” designed with curving streets, landscaped medians, and scenic views of the Franklin Mountains.
The neighborhood’s design emphasized harmony with the desert landscape—featuring curving streets, parks, and residential lots oriented toward natural vistas rather than rigid urban grids. One of its earliest landmarks, Madeline Park, was named for Kern’s daughter and remains a gathering space for residents more than a century later. Kern’s early promotional materials promised a quiet, healthful neighborhood “away from the smoke of the city” but still within easy reach of downtown El Paso and the Texas State School of Mines, which would later become UTEP.
In 1916, Kern erected a decorative iron entrance arch at the corner of Kansas Street and Robinson Avenue, symbolizing the neighborhood’s gateway. The gate incorporated astrological and mystical symbols reflecting Kern’s fascination with esoteric philosophy and his belief in cosmic harmony. Though the original gate was removed in later decades, its image endures in photographs and community memory, serving as a visual emblem of the neighborhood’s heritage.
By the 1920s, Kern’s ambitious development encountered financial and legal difficulties, eventually leading to his loss of control over the property. Despite his personal misfortunes, the community flourished. Builders and residents shaped a distinctive architectural identity blending Pueblo Revival, Spanish Colonial, Tudor, Craftsman, and Mid-Century Modern styles—many constructed with native stone and adobe that gave Kern Place its organic charm.
Through the mid-20th century, Kern Place became a sought-after address for university faculty, professionals, and artists drawn to its proximity to UTEP, downtown El Paso, and the Franklin Mountains. Several homes gained local fame, including the “Castle” on Cincinnati Avenue, built of native rock with rounded turrets and crenellated walls, and the Hoover House, now the official residence of the UTEP president.
In recent decades, Kern Place has evolved into one of El Paso’s most vibrant and historically significant neighborhoods, celebrated for its walkability, mature shade trees, and its mix of old-world charm and modern vitality. The Cincinnati Street Entertainment District has introduced a lively restaurant and nightlife scene, while Madeline Park and the nearby streetcar line continue to anchor community life. Preservation initiatives, led by dedicated residents and historians, ensure that Peter Kern’s original vision—a beautiful, livable, and welcoming community—endures in the heart of El Paso.
References:
- SAH Archipedia – Kern Place (El Paso, Texas)
- El Paso Museum of History – Kern Place Gate
- Wikipedia – Peter E. Kern
- Wikipedia – Kern Place, El Paso
- UTEP Heritage Tour – The Hoover House
- R. Doug Wicker – Historic Kern Place, El Paso (Parts 1 & 2)