August 17, 2006

New Almaden Quicksilver Museum uncovers new displays

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

The New Almaden Quicksilver Museum is in the process of new displays. Once or twice a year, novel exhibits are created by the staff from storage and donations.

Park interpreter John Slenter is still working on the New Almaden doctors’ display. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“It’s on ongoing process,” said New Almaden Quicksilver Museum park interpreter John Slenter. “Once or twice a year we try to make changes that reflect another aspect of the New Almaden history. We’ve had two this year—the mineral display and now these.”

The museum is part of the Almaden Quicksilver County Park and includes over 19 miles of hiking trails, 23 miles of equestrian trails, 10 miles of bicycle trails and the historical museum located at Casa Grande—the mine manager’s residence.

The park is located in the world’s largest mercury mining areas and an integral part of California history. It was the state’s first and richest mine and essential to the Gold Rush that followed. The hills of the park are full of cinnabar ore, from which mercury or quicksilver, a liquid metal essential in refining and purifying the gold discovered in the Mother Load was found. The red rock excavated from the area created a thriving economy and several towns, which began 150 years ago.

Slenter and his fellow park interpreter Terri Sanislo-Williams are a wealth of information of the history, geology and the mining communities. They present special programs throughout the year. Slenter is now preparing for his annual Tools of the Miner exhibit, which begins Aug. 26. Exhibiters from around California will share their collections and expertise of hard-rock miners. Sanislo-Williams is equally busy planning the Yuletide Bazaar later this year.

But for now it’s back to the displays in progress. The new exhibits already showcased include school life, women of New Almaden and religious icons from the past. Coming soon will be the medical display, but Slenter has run into a small glitch in the medicine bottles full of mercury and cure-alls of the past.

“They’re considered chemical hazards now,” said Slenter. “And have to be disposed of properly.”

The new room at Casa Grande is full of donated items. Oak furniture that once held the medications of mining physician Dr. Underwood Hall from 1889 to 1894 and brought to the museum by his descendents, have been cleaned and readied for the new display. There are also contraptions to grind and create pills, records, pictures and other odd devices used to cure the ills of the past. Slenter admits he has no idea what some of them were used for. But one thing is for sure—he’ll find out.

To see the new displays, visit the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, 21350 Almaden Road, San Jose, or call (408) 323-1107. The museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.