by the efforts of the Smeltertown parish, on the summit of Cerro de Muleros (now called Mount Cristo Rey), the northernmost peak of the Juarez Mountains, located on the border of the United States and Mexico. Costa, like Soler, was Catalan, and Soler stayed with him while working on the statue. The statue is tall including a base and is composed of concrete, steel and Cordovan cream limestone which was quarried near Austin, Texas. The blocks were chosen by Soler and winched up the mountain. Soler carved it on-site with an air chisel. The head of the statue is elongated so that the figure appears of natural proportions when viewed from below. The statue is not technically a crucifix, as the palms of Christ face downward in a gesture of blessing. The statue was completed in 1939 and dedicated in 1940. The diocese ran short of money, but Soler completed the front of the statue with his own funds. Works by Soler Cabeza de Estudio (1907) Princess María de la Paz (1918) The World, 1920s - 1940s, a collection of studies of native peoples Charlotte Dahmen Chao (1925) Diego Rivera (1931), sandstone Abelardo Rodríguez (1932) Enrique González Martínez (1934) Cristo Rey (1939), limestone Tom Lea (1946) bronze Fresia (1946), hardwood Mater Dolorosa (1950), modernist Notes Celebratory masses on the Feast of Christ the King and a pilgrimage to the top of the mountain are held annually in October. The Stations of the Cross line the trail up the mountainside. By tradition, the mass ends with the shout Long live Christ the King. p. 54 Tom Lea: an Oral History After the success of the project, Cerro de Muleros (Mule Drivers' Mountain) was renamed Mount Cristo Rey. In 1991, a lightning strike damaged the statue and dislodged several limestone blocks, which were retrieved from down the mountainside. El Paso Times Mount Cristo Rey once a figure of peace now a symbol of struggle References External links Bernice Zuniga & Terri Fout, King on the Mountain Paul Daniggelis, "Urbici Soler", Handbook of Texas Online [Paul Daniggelis, "Rodant Pel Mon", International Association for the Visual Arts, 1995, El Paso] 1890 births 1953 deaths Sculptors from Catalonia Artists from El Paso, Texas Sculptors from New Mexico University of Texas at El Paso faculty Christ the King Sculptors from Texas People from Lleida Spanish emigrants to the United States People from Doña Ana County, New