Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
408-287-2290;
www.historysanjose.org
;
cnr Senter Rd & Phelan Ave;
11am-5pm Tue-Sun,
closed 1st Mon of month)
Historic buildings from all over San Jose have been brought together in this open-air his-
tory museum, southeast of the city center in Kelley Park. The centerpiece is a dramatic
half-scale replica of the 237ft-high 1881
Electric Light Tower
. The original tower was a
pioneering attempt at street lighting, intended to illuminate the entire town center. It was a
complete failure but was left standing as a central landmark until it toppled over in 1915
because of rust and wind. Other buildings include an 1888
Chinese temple
and the
Pacific
Hotel
, which has rotating exhibits inside. The
Trolley Restoration Barn
restores historic
trolley cars to operate on San Jose's light-rail line, and on weekends you can ride a trolley
along the park's own short line.
Tech Museum of Innovation
MUSEUM
(The Tech; 408-294-8324;
www.thetech.org
; 201 S Market St; adult/child 3-17 $15/10;
10am-5pm; )
This excellent technology museum, opposite Plaza de Cesar Chavez, examines subjects
from robotics to space exploration to genetics. The museum also includes an IMAX dome
theater (additional $5 admission), which screens different films throughout the day.
San Jose Museum of Art
MUSEUM
11am-5pm Tue-Sun)
With a strong permanent collection of 20th-century works and a variety of imaginative
changing exhibits, the city's central art museum is one of the Bay Area's finest. The main
building started life as the post office in 1892, was damaged by the 1906 earthquake and
became an art gallery in 1933. A modern wing was added in 1991.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
MUSEUM
$9/5/7; 9am-5pm Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun)
West of downtown, this unusual and educational Egyptian Museum is one of San Jose's
more interesting attractions, with an extensive collection that includes statues, household