Casa Grande, San Jose, California
historic place
Welcome to Casa Grande, a historic place in San Jose, California's Santa Clara County. This significant building was constructed in 1854. It was built of adobe, brick, and wood. Casa Grande served as the residence for the manager of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine until 1925. The New Almaden mine was a rich and productive mining enterprise in North America. It was California's first mining operation, producing mercury vital for gold and silver recovery during the Gold Rush. The building was planned by Henry W. Halleck and constructed by J. Young and F. Meyer. Henry W. Halleck later became General-in-Chief of the Union Armies during the Civil War. Casa Grande was considered a stately California mansion of its era. It hosted important social and political events. Today, Casa Grande houses the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. This site offers a glimpse into California's early mining history and the lives of its prominent figures.