The original Rio Vista Bracero Reception Center’s rich history and the official designation as a national historic landmark are celebrated by the City of Socorro, El Paso, Texas (KTSM).
The monument even acknowledges the contributions of migrant farm workers and the Bracero Program’s record.
The event function may be held from 6 to 10 p. m. Saturday, May 11 at the Rio Vista Community Center, 901 N. Rio Vista Road.
What is being billed as the” first landmark monument in the U.S. with a national title in both English and Spanish” will be unveiled at the occasion.
There will also be food, dancing, entertainment, live music and various activities.
What is being dubbed the Rio Vista Reception Center National Historic Landmark did become celebrated by the City of Socorro, along with the National Park Service and Latinos in Heritage Conservation.
The City of Socorro “opens a new chapter in rehabilitating and transforming this landmark’s traditional adobe houses into a lively neighborhood gateway and first federal Bracero History Museum,” according to the media transfer.
According to an data sheet from the occasion administrators, the site was created in 1915 as El Paso County’s” Poor Farm” and has since served various functions, including hosting plans for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Great Depression.
According to the data plate,” Today, it stands as a National Historic Landmark, symbolizing the enduring achievements of immigrant laborers and providing valuable historical insight for upcoming years.”
The information sheet further states that this monument” joins well-known landmarks like Ellis Island and the Alamo, yet though less than 1 % of national monuments are associated with Latino-related sites.”
According to the data sheet, the blog served as “key hub for the Bracero Program, which from 1942 to 1964 enabled over 4.6 million border crossings for Hispanic agricultural workers in hard circumstances.” Some American families who trace their ancestry back to these workers find this site to be of great importance.
Potential plans for the site’s 20- plus properties will be to convert it into a “vibrant group hotspot, featuring the second Bracero History Museum, a public library and a small business incubator”, according to the event organizers.
The project has received an initial grant of$ 750, 000 from the Mellon Foundation and an additional$ 1.05 million in congressional funding, according to organizers.
