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 employed over 1,100 workers before a long decline and rebirth as a park.
Condensed History of the Park
Four-part summary of how New Almaden began to the birth of a park
Alternative Condensed History using Graphs
Economic history of the rise and fall of the New Almaden mine
History Walks
Self-guided history walks that you can take
Then and now Images
Comparison of how things once looked and comparison with the view today
Where the Shafts and Tunnels were
Two historic maps of park mine shafts and tunnels with today's trails
Where the Ore Bodies were
Historic map of ore bodies with today's trails (see reference)
3D reprentation of Senador Mine
3D representation of Senador Mine
History Books
Good books on the history of New Almaden and the mines