Almaden in San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Yellow Kid

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012

1. The Yellow Kid Marker

[Photo captions, left, right:]

Yellow Kid Stope, where the Harry Shaft broke surface from 500’ level.

Mr. Derby, the mine company storekeeper, and Mrs. Derby inspect the opening of the Yellow Kid’s west portal.

Inscription. The Yellow Kid Below and on the opposite hillside was the opening to the Yellow Kid Tunnel. Because of a yellow vein in the earth, the tunnel was named after a popular early American cartoon depicting an Irish immigrant boy wearing a yellow shirt. This tunnel became the mainstay of the new [sic] Almaden Mine from 1894 to 1896. It was 200 ft. long, 80 ft. deep, and averaged between 30 and 70 feet wide. It needed strong timbers at the entrance for reinforcement.

The Yellow Kid was the first comic strip in U.S. history to be printed in color. This Yellow Kid stamp was the first of a U.S. Postal Service line of stamps dedicated to early American cartoons.

Erected by New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 37° 10.629′ N, 121° 50.402′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Almaden. The marker is located in Almaden Quicksilver County Park on the Yellow Kid Trail, approximately 0.2 miles from English Camp. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Jose CA 95120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The “Main Tunnel” (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); English Camp

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(about 600 feet away); English Camp School (about 700 feet away); Camp Mt. Madonna (about 700 feet away); Site of English Town (about 700 feet away); SpanishTown (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Rossi Retort (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mine Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Regarding The Yellow Kid.
Almaden Quicksilver County Park entry:
"The Yellow Kid Tunnel was named after a popular American comic strip before the turn of the century, featuring an Irish immigrant boy in a yellow shirt. It was the first color comic strip in U.S. history. The tunnel's name was inspired by a yellow vein found in the earth here."
Link at http://newalmaden.org/AQSPark/englishtown.html#YellowKid

Also see . . . The Yellow Kid. This site deals with the cartoon, The Yellow Kid (Submitted on February 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012

2. The Yellow Kid Marker

Mr. Derby, the mine company storekeeper, and Mrs. Derby inspect the opening of the Yellow Kid’s west image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012

3. Mr. Derby, the mine company storekeeper, and Mrs. Derby inspect the opening of the Yellow Kid’s west

Yellow Kid Stope, where the Harry Shaft broke surface from 500’ level. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012

4. Yellow Kid Stope, where the Harry Shaft broke surface from 500’ level.

The Yellow Kid (cartoon) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

5. The Yellow Kid (cartoon)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 714 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.