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| Landmark #339 | Santa Clara County | Visited: August 28, 2016 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque on the side of the road! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: The Indians used pigment from this cinnabar hill for paint. Mercury was mined as early as 1845. The gold discovery made mercury indispensable, and the mine, the most productive in America, became world famous. It sold for $1,700,700 in 1864.
OTHER TIDBITS: The Ohlone were the tribe that painted with cinnabar, and in fact, the original Mission Santa Clara’s walls were painted with this red paint! When Mexican Cavalry Officer Captain Andres Castillero first encountered their paint pile, he started mining straightaway, not for use in California but in Mexican silver mines! Captain Castillero named his new claim for the famous quicksilver mines of Almadén, Spain! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: On N-bound old Hwy 101 (P.M. 27.5) (Monterey Rd) 1/2 mi S of Ford Rd San Jose, CA 95138 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~330mi (532km) — 5.5hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |