Entry No. 36 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: ruins

Senator Mine

Opened in 1863, the Senator Mine (historically spelled Senador) was a highly productive cinnabar mine that supplied mercury to extract gold during the California Gold Rush. It operated intermittently until 1926, leaving behind a legacy of heavy industrial activity. Today, the site lies within Almaden Quicksilver County Park, where the massive, crumbling concrete towers of its 1915 Herreschoff furnace and dust bins still stand along the trail.

The move: Embark on a scenic hike along the Senador Mine Trail from the McAbee Road entrance, stopping to marvel at and photograph the towering concrete ruins before continuing up the ridge for panoramic views of the South Bay.

📍 Before you go The underground mine shafts are sealed and off-limits for safety, but the historic concrete furnace ruins are legally accessible to view and photograph from the public Senador Mine Trail within Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

• 📍 Almaden
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Senator Mine, Almaden, CA 95120, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: hmdb.org · Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-20