International Museum of Art, El Paso

The International Museum of Art is housed in the former home of William Ward Turney, a lawyer and state legislator. Designed in 1906 by Henry C. Trost and completed in 1910, the Neoclassical house is marked by a large porch with six Corinthian columns. During the Mexican Revolution, it served as a social and civic gathering place, and the basement was reportedly stocked with food and ammunition in case of unrest.

After Turney’s death, Iva Turney donated the house to the city in 1939, and it opened as the International Museum in May 1947. From 1960 to 1998 it housed the El Paso Museum of Art, before reopening as the International Museum of Art in 1999. Original details such as carved woodwork, fireplaces, beamed ceilings, and a stained-glass staircase window remain, and former living rooms now function as galleries.

The collection includes European paintings, Mexican and Latin American art, African works, and objects from India and China. A basement gallery focuses on the Mexican Revolution, and the Red Room presents contemporary local artists. The museum also organizes solo exhibitions, rotating displays, and community events such as Family Days.