Almaden in San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Buena Vista
A Masterpiece of Masonry & Mechanics
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2012
1. The Buena Vista Marker
[Photo captions: Top row; left, center, right]
The Cornish pump’s flywheel measured 24 feet in diameter and weighed 25 tons. In 1887 the pump raised 86,000,000 gallons of water.
Six coal-fed boilers in a brick-lined room supplied steam power for pumps, hoist and air compressor engines.
A dual-hoist system raised and lowered cages carrying miners and ore cars into the descending shaft.
[Bottom Photograph]
The Buena Vista pumphouse, with its red painted fancy cathedral windows was allegedly placed to be visible from San Jose, 12 miles away. It was intended that this attractive building nestled in New Almaden’s hillside would draw wealthy investors to the mining company.
The Cornish pump’s flywheel measured 24 feet in diameter and weighed 25 tons. In 1887 the pump raised 86,000,000 gallons of water.
Six coal-fed boilers in a brick-lined room supplied steam power for pumps, hoist and air compressor engines.
A dual-hoist system raised and lowered cages carrying miners and ore cars into the descending shaft.
[Bottom Photograph]
The Buena Vista pumphouse, with its red painted fancy cathedral windows was allegedly placed to be visible from San Jose, 12 miles away. It was intended that this attractive building nestled in New Almaden’s hillside would draw wealthy investors to the mining company.
Though not itself a significant source of ore, the Buena Vista’s value was in pumping water out of neighboring flooded mine tunnels, thus allowing miners to follow veins of cinnabar ore deeper into the earth.
Considered a masterpiece of masonry, the Buena Vista’s pumphouse foundation was constructed using sandstone from New Almaden and immense blocks of granite from the Sierras. Abandoned in 1893, these foundations are all that remain of the Buena Vista today.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical date for this entry is July 5, 1882.
Location. 37° 11.217′ N, 121° 50.626′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Almaden. This marker is located in Almaden Quicksilver Park on the Randol Trail, near the junction with the Buena Vista Trail. 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. Santa Isabel Shaft (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mining Operations (approx. 0.4 miles away); Day Tunnel (approx. 0.4 miles away); English Camp School
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Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2012
2. The Buena Vista Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2012
3. Buena Vista Pumphouse Foundation
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2012
4. Buena Vista Pumphouse Foundation
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2012
5. Buena Vista Pumphouse Foundation
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 647 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 30, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
