El Paso: First Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum

Road into a covered gate with sign saying United States Army Fort Bliss, Pershing Gate

(Yvonne Russel)

Aerial view of a town labeled Columbus N.M. As It is Today

Columbus, New Mexico 1916 before Pancho Villa raid. (NARA)

Pancho Villa and others riding horses

Pancho Villa rides into Columbus, NM. (Library of Congress)

Three buildings in background with small mounds of tarps in front

Columbus, NM after Pancho Villas’ raid. (NARA)

Portrait of Pancho Villa on horseback

Pancho Villa (Library of Congress)

Soldiers marching single file along an unpaved road with mountains in the far background

The Punitive Expedition enters Mexico (NARA)

A row of canvas covered trucks driving through deep ruts

Dodge Brothers Four Wheel Drive vehicles (NARA)

Group of people and several bi-planes in a desert

Curtiss Jenny flying missions into Mexico during Punitive Expedition. (NARA)

Tents, horses, and people in a desert with mountains in background. Photo labeled Picket lines and Battery parks, Fort Bliss, Texas

Punitive Expedition supply stores at Fort Bliss. (NARA)

Fort Bliss can trace its history back to the Mexican-American War, when it was first garrisoned in 1846. In 1916, Fort Bliss was the headquarters of the Punitive Expedition to capture the Mexican rebel Pancho Villa. Today, Fort Bliss is one of the largest army installations in the country, at approximately 1,700 total square miles in size – bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

Fort Bliss is an active military base and access is limited.  Please call the First Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum for detailed visitation instructions. Visitors typically gain access same day. 

First Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum

  • Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Admission: None
  • Building 1735, Marshall Road, Fort Bliss, TX
  • 915-568-5412
  • Visit Website
  • National Register of Historic Places
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