Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum

I figured all the goods would be out on the trails and that I wouldn't want to spend a whole lot of time in the museum. Wow, was I wrong. I really enjoyed listening to one of the volunteers explain in great detail all the history, equipments, and politics of the time, answering any question we could throw her way - and then some. Definitely worth a visit if you've not been and you're in the park!

Friendly, well informed guide. Beautiful drive past farms and forests enroute. Pretty house named Casa Grande, well thought out and executed exhibits with plenty to see, hear, read about how quick silver was mined, used, and affected the people involved. Historic, scientific, and social stories of workers, owners, equipment, and technology. Antique packed front rooms showed how homes were furnished and decorated way back when. Gift shop had cool stuff to help entertain and teach kids. Cost is free, but a modest $2 donation is suggested, and well worth it for families or school groups.

I've lived in the San Jose area for 20 years and never realized this museum existed. We went for my son's 4th grade field trip and I loved it so much that I would definitely go back and would also recommend it to others. The museum is very informative about the mining process and the history of the area during that time. They have a lot of displays and an area that describes the typical day in the life of a miner. A portion of the museum has been decorated in the time frame of that era so you can see how the mining manager might have lived as he sought investors for the company. We also had a picnic lunch on the grounds and did a brief walk around the town to see some of the old homes and the graveyard. It was a lovely day and a fantastic field trip.

It felt like we were walking into the 1800’s. They have done an incredible job of preserving history. The mining of mercury was not easy and the mining exhibits give the viewer a clear understanding of what it felt like to be a miner in the 1800’s.

Small free historic museum about the mining industry there. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Watch out for this tree out back - the bunya pine has large, heavy seed pods. One almost hit me.

Very nice and informed people at the museum of quicksilver. Learned a lot.

little gem. local history on mercury mine. has some kids based scavenger hunts through the museum as well as surrounding grounds. allowed the adult to read all displays while kids ran around searching. funny part the were bored to death till the starting finding stuff, and then the loved the place. completing hunts resulted in little prizes, and the adults got to help in search and learned a little too. we spent two hours, and didn't even realize it.

Great museum that is not overrun with visitors. There is a lot of information inside.

Awesome little museum with some really great mineral specimens. The volunteer docents here are amazing! They were engaging, knowledgeable and incredibly kind. Overall an excellent experience. Also the grounds were beautiful and I noticed the back had picnic tables and a couple of nice bbq pits.

They did a nice job with the museum.