Long before it was a park, the area was the site of one of the most productive mercury mines in North America. At its peak, the New Almaden mines employes over 1100 workers before a long decline and rebirth as a park.
Gold Rush Years
Mercury from New Almaden was essential to processing California's gold ore, making the mines here as vital to the Gold Rush as the Sierra Nevada diggings themselves.
Thriving Towns
The mines gave rise to a string of company towns — Englishtown, Spanishtown, and New Almaden — each with its own culture, church, and community life.
Decline and Fall
After Randol's retirement in 1892 the mine slowly headed downhill but small scale mining continued for nearly 80 years.
Birth of a Park
From mining to tourism and entertainment to a magnificent county park.
1. New Almaden: The Mercury Mine That Built a Boomtown South of San José
2. M. Lanyon, and L. Bulmore, "Cinnabar Hills: The Quicksilver Days of New Almaden". Village Printer, (1967).
3. J. Schneider, "Quicksilver: The Complete History of Santa Clara County's New Almaden Mine", Zella Schneider, (1992).
4. K. M. Johnson, "The New Almaden Quicksilver Mine". Talisman Press, (1963).