Top Ten Landmarks in San Jose

1: The Peralta Adobe

Built in 1797, is the oldest building in San Jose.

 In 1776, an Apache Indian – Manuel González and his family, came to California with the Spanish Anza Party. In 1777, Manuel helped to found the Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, which was deemed to be the initial municipal government.

Mr. González died in 1804, and in 1808, the adobe was passed on to Luís María Peralta, a sergeant in the Spanish Army, a famous personality, who occupied the adobe and for whom it was named. He was also  commissioner of the Pueblo of San José, and owner of Rancho San Antonio of the East Bay. When he died in 1851, his two daughters inherited the house. In 1966, the City of San Jose purchased the adobe, renovated, and restored it, and also created a park. This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2: The Winchester Mystery House

A tourist attraction in San Jose, California, was at one time where Mrs. Sarah Winchester lived. Mrs. Winchester was the widow of the rifle industrialist, Mr. William Wirt Winchester. The home, built in 1886, is known for its oddities, and believed to be haunted by ghosts who were shot with Winchester firearms.  

It was believed that Winchester oversaw the work on the  "from-the-ground-up" 24/7 construction until she passed in September of 1922.

The Winchester Mystery House --- a Queen Anne Style Victorian mansion --- as a sizable structure, is a historical landmark, and is on the list of National Register of Historic Places. It is owned by a private party.  This landmark is on the National Register of Historical Places.

3: The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

Founded in 1927, is a historic rose garden in the Rose Garden District of town. So many roses…with 3,500 plants representing 180+ rose varieties. This garden was named as the best rose garden ever in a competition “America’s Best Rose Garden.”

4: The Oddfellows Building

This is 1870 – 1880’s structural design at its finest in downtown San Jose, CA. This three-story “Italianate” Oddfellows Building, which was built in 1883, is located on the corner of Santa Clara and Third streets. Enjoy this landmark.

5: Diridon Station

On the Union Pacific Coast Line tracks, opened in 1935. This depot also serves Silicon Valley and Santa Clara. An historical landmark, this hub is named after Ron Diridon, County Supervisor.  

The Diridon Station is located at 65 Cahill Street.  

6: Alum Rock Park

The oldest park in San Jose, was founded in 1872. This 720-acre park provides 13 miles of trails and up to the South Rim and North Rim Trails. You will find a visitor’s center, mineral springs, lush woodlands, a museum with an animal rehabilitation station, and family areas to accommodate picnics, volleyball, playground, and camping when appropriate. There is also the creek for water activities. You will find views of the Santa Clara Valley and there are trails for bicyclists and those on horseback. For more outdoor enthusiasm, enjoy connecting with the East Bay Ridge Trail or Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve.

7: Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

In 1803, the lovely landmark, Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, was built as the first “pueblo” church. It was named for St. Joseph, the “pueblo” patron saint. Some of the church buildings had been destroyed by fires and earthquakes, however, were reconstructed.  

In 1876, on the feast of Saint Joseph, the most recent and current pieces were set in place during the construction. The church was consecrated as St. Joseph’s Cathedral in 1990. In 1997, St. Joseph’s Cathedral was granted, from the Vatican, the status to become a basilica. This privilege is only bestowed on a church when it has been recognized for its beautiful design, the history within, and how it serves the surrounding community.

The Franciscan Order of Priests maintained the church for 48 years in the early to mid-1880’s and the Jesuit Order maintained the church for 141 years --- from the mid-1880’s until 1992. Priests of the Diocese maintain the church today. This lovely landmark is a reminder of history that lives on in cities that revere their relics.

8: The Bayside Cannery

Was, before 1906, named the Precita Canning Company. It was at one time, the third largest cannery globally. After the 1906 earthquake, the owner’s son, Thomas Foon Chew (The Asparagus King), assumed the company, and gave it the new name, Bayside Cannery.

Until Thomas purchased the company, they had only canned tomatoes. They soon began canning vegetables such as asparagus, with the help of Thomas’s ingenuity and new methods to can goods. He was dubbed The Asparagus King. Upon his death in 1931, and due to the depression as well, the company closed in 1936. The cannery, which has been deserted, is considered to be a landmark of Alviso. A mural that portrays Alviso’s history, has been painted over the cannery.   

9: The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

Located in San Jose, CA., welcomes an eager, interested 100,000+ visitors of which 26,000+ are children who attend local and out-of-area schools. This is a large draw showing artifacts dating into periods including the Early Dynastic, Neolithic, Greco Roman, Ptolemaic, Coptic Byzantine and many more. In 1915, H. Spence Lewis founded the Order AMORC. The Museum began with only one relic, a lion goddess, and grew in size to approximately 4,000 historical objects. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, to the delight of visitors, accommodates the greatest assortment of genuine ancient Egyptian artifacts across North America. The Museum has become well-known for its educational values that dive back into the past and bring us in to the future.  In 1965, Ralph, son to H. Spence Lewis led a research team that discovered Egyptian temples and tombs.  The new Rosicrucian Museum opened in 1966, giving way to a larger space for artifact donations. During Covid-19, various events are offered online while providing diverse forms of learning for both the young and young-at-heart.

10: The Hayes Mansion

Mary Chynoweth, in 1903, hired an architect, George Page to rebuild The Hayes Mansion, a wooden structure mansion that was burned in a fire in 1899. Today, the mansion is the Hayes Mansion Hotel, and is a working hotel resort. The mansion, later visited by three United States  presidents, was reconstructed not only for her dwelling, but also the families of Mary’s two sons.

The property was equipped with a post office, carriage stop, railroad depot, power plant and a chapel. They employed 39+ ranch hands to maintain the property. Fruits and vegetables were grown, with an interest in livestock as well.

The property, sold in the 1950’s, was purchased in the 1990’s by the City of San Jose. This landmark, appearing on the National Register of Historic Places, fell into disrepair, however, was renovated by the city. It has 214 rooms and offers office space. It is surrounded by a 20-acre park.

(Both of Mary’s sons, Everis and Jay Hayes, became the publishers of the San Jose Mercury.)