El Noa Noa: A Memory of Queer Spaces in Chihuahua, México

The El Paso Museum of History is excited to unveil our 2026 Pride month pop-up exhibition El Noa Noa: A Memory of Queer Spaces in Chihuahua, Mexico. Located on Av. Benito Juárez, in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, a few blocks from the Santa Fe Street Bridge, El Noa Noa first opened its doors in 1964. In 1966, sixteen-year-old Alberto Aguilera Valadez, better known as Juan Gabriel, began performing at El Noa Noa. This would later inspire one of Juan Gabriel’s hit songs, “El Noa Noa,” released in 1980. The song's popularity led to an influx of patrons to the bar, both from the U. S. and Mexico. El Noa Noa provided a sanctuary for Queer individuals who were seeking community in the borderland. While not exclusively a Queer bar, it provided a space for LGBTQ+ people to gather, drink, and dance freely. This photography exhibition highlights the patrons of El Noa Noa and other Queer bars throughout the state of Chihuahua. Photographs taken by Don Ward, from the private collection of David Wilton.“El Noa Noa: A Memory of Queer Spaces in Chihuahua, México” will be on display starting June 6 through August 2, 2026, in our Juan & Linda Uribe Community Gallery.