Founded in 1872 and known as the reservation, Alum Rock Park is the oldest municipal park in California. It was named for a large rock formation believed to contain alum, and even after that identification proved incorrect, the name remained. The park became a tremendously popular recreational destination, famous for its mineral springs, and over time it featured a hotel, a saloon, mineral bath houses, a cafe, a zoo, and an indoor swimming pool. Its rock alcoves, footbridges, and other stone features were built in the late 1800s. A livery stable at the upper entrance provided horses for hire and continued to operate under private ownership for more than a century. An extraterrestrial meteor was long a popular attraction until it was found to be a natural geological formation. A small carousel was installed, featuring tiger first horses made of cast aluminum. At the height of the park’s popularity, trains brought thousands of visitors directly into the park from downtown San Jose. In 1954, the Youth Science Institute opened to children to promote appreciation of the park’s wildlife and nature, marking a change in how the park could serve the City of San Jose. In later years, it was determined that continued heavy use would irreversibly damage the park’s fragile ecology, and many structures that had once drawn crowds were dismantled as the park was restored to a more natural state.

Photo: Barry Swackhamer