Historical Marker
Site of First Mining in California
New Almaden, Santa Clara County · California
Erected by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County and Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850, E Clampus Vitus, 1979
The bronze starts the mine with two San José men in 1824, but the red rock was Ohlone knowledge long before: people ground the cinnabar for paint, and after entering Mission Santa Clara they painted its walls with it, the county park says. The bronze also calls the mine in constant production since 1845. It was dedicated in October 1979; the mines had shut in 1976, and output had been fitful since the Quicksilver Mining Company went bankrupt in 1912. The bronze spells the partner Chabolla; other accounts write Chaboya.
What the plaque says
Site of First Mining in California Here along Arroyo de los Alamitos Creek in 1824, Luis Chabolla and Antonio Sunol first worked New Almaden ore in an arrastra. In constant production since 1845, more than one million flasks of quicksilver valued in excess of 50 million dollars have been produced. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 339-1 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County and Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850, E Clampus Vitus, October 13, 1979.
Where it stands
37.17415, -121.82450 · Directions
More markers nearby
- New Almaden — 0.5 mi
- Almadén Vineyards — 6.0 mi
- Patchen — 8.4 mi
- Montgomery Hill — 9.1 mi