Paso del Norte International Bridge Live Cam

Historical Foundations

Long before the steel and concrete of the modern Paso del Norte International Bridge spanned the Río Bravo del Norte, the junction of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez was a nexus of indigenous pathways, Spanish colonial routes, and early trade corridors. Native populations such as the Piro, Suma, and Mescalero Apache traversed the riverbed seasonally, following game and edible plant resources. When Spanish explorers arrived in the late 16th century, they established the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro—an artery that would eventually connect Mexico City to the northern frontier. By the 19th century, the settlement on the southern bank, known then as El Paso del Norte, had become a military outpost and mission center, while the northern bank evolved into El Paso, Texas. The necessity to cross the river reliably led to the erection of rudimentary wooden footbridges in the 1820s, which set the stage for the later international span.