Laborfest: New Almaden Quicksilver Mine Tour

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine - Labor History Tour
By special arrangement with Santa Clara County Parks, the tour will emphasize economic and labor history, and will cover the considerable distances between sites by van.

Where did the San Jose Mercury News get its name? From the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine south of San José which during its heyday was the richest and most productive mercury mine in the United States.

Named for the once-famous mercury mine in Almadén, Spain, mining operations near San José began in 1845 after Mexican Army Captain Andrés Castillero discovered the red cinnabar rock that Ohlone Native Americans were using to make paint. In addition to formidable mining equipment such as the great rotary furnace, the mine developed two separate residential areas – English Camp for the Cornish miners, and Spanish Camp for miners brought from Mexico and Chile.

Tickets: $15, must be purchased in advance
Box lunch included
Total tickets limited to 18
Please purchase it early

To make your reservation:
By e-mail to the San José Peace & Justice Center:
coordinator [at] sanjosepeace.org or call 408-297-2299. We will contact you to confirm your reservation. Then mail or deliver a check ($15 per person) to the San José Peace & Justice Center, 48 South 7th Street, San José, CA 95112.

For more info:
call SJ Peace & Justice Center 408-297-2299
or call LaborFest - (415) 642-8066
For info on the museum, call Quicksilver Mining
Museum: (408) 323-1107

Direction:
From Highway 85 take the Almaden Expressway exit south 4.5 miles to Almaden Road. Turn right and proceed 2.5 miles west to the town of New Almaden. Casa Grande (and the museum) will be on your left.
From Highway 880 take 101 south to 280 north (toward San Francisco). Exit 280 at Hwy. 87 (Guadalupe Parkway) south. Exit Hwy. 87 at Almaden Expressway south (to the right). Proceed about 8 miles to Almaden Road. Turn right and proceed 2.5 miles to the town of New Almaden.

Endorsed by South Bay Labor Council, San Jose City College Labor Studies, San Jose Peace & Justice Center
See also:
http://www.southbaylabor.org/
http://www.sjcc.edu/academics/departments/labor-studies
http://sanjosepeace.org/
http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/Almaden-Quicksilver-Mining-Museum.aspx
http://www.laborfest.net/2014/Documents/NewAlmadenTour.htm
http://www.laborfest.net/2014/2014schedule.htm