FIELD TRIP TO NEW ALMADEN AND THE ALMADEN QUICKSILVER MINING MUSEUM

Carol Corden has arranged a driven tour in an air conditioned/heated van with a knowledgeable Interpreter between April and October. Meet at the museum at 9 A.M., 21350 Almaden Road , San Jose , CA. (approx. 30 minute drive from Redwood City )

$5 per person 16 persons maximum for van tour. Bring a sack lunch.

The interpreter will talk all about the history of the mercury mining and miners and the geological area in general. He'll show us the places and pictures of importance and answer any questions we may have. We will be able to get out of the van and enjoy the sunshine and views. Bring a sack lunch and we'll have lunch at the English Camp, benches/table. We will then be brought back to the Museum where we can explore on our own. The museum is very comfortable for older persons - chairs, hardwood floors and filtered water. There are many hiking trails for the young and strong among us. Ask your friends and family members too. We'll discuss at our General Meeting in February.

Additional Information on Almaden Quicksilver County Park, New Almaden and the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum:

 To reach the park's main entrance, travel down Almaden Road. The New Almaden Historic District is located along Almaden Road before the park's Hacienda Entrance. Along the way, you'll pass by a number of historic houses and buildings. New Almaden is not part of the county park, but the history of the town is intimately linked with the mining history of the park. Many of the people who managed or worked for the mines lived in New Almaden. Their houses still remain. The town lines along both sides of Alamitos Creek. Bertram Road runs on the south side of Alamitos Creek. Several historical sites lie along the road, including the Hacienda Hotel site, the New Almaden Community Club, and the Hacienda Cemetery. The Hacienda Hotel was built in 1848 as a boarding house for miners. It was the first two-story hotel in California. In the 1930's, it was converted into the Cafe Del Rio, which was a popular restaurant. After 1979, it became the home of the La Foret French restaurant. Down the road past the Community Club is the Hacienda Cemetery. It has graves dating back to the 1800's. One of the oddest graves is the burial site of Bertram Barrett's arm. Bertram Barrett lost his arm as a teenager in a hunting accident in 1898. The rest of him was buried in another cemetery in San Jose's Oak Hill Cemetery in 1959.

The original site of the Almaden Mining Museum was in the Carson-Perham Adobe. The house was built around 1848 and was the home of George Carson, who held a number of jobs, including postmaster and book-keeper for the mines. The house later became the home of Constance Perham and her husband Douglas. They collected mining artifacts and ran the original New Almaden Mining Museum, which opened in 1949. Constance Perham retired in 1984. Parts of her collection are currently on display in the new museum. Constance Perham died at the age of 92 on January 28, 2001. (Doug Perham founded the Perham Foundation, which ran the Foothill Electronics Museum that used to be at Foothill College, but is now at History San Jose.)

One of the most significant buildings in New Almaden is La Casa Grande. It was built in 1854 as hotel, but became the home of the mine manager. It was purchased by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department in 1981. Today it houses the Quicksilver Mining Museum. The museum has exhibits on quicksilver mining as well as historical photographs and artifacts showing what life was like in the quicksilver mining towns. It has maps showing the huge network of mining tunnels. There were around 100 miles of tunnels. Some descended hundreds of feet below sea level. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm Friday-Sunday. Next to the museum is Club Almaden, an outdoor group picnic facility with catered meals.