| Conceived on November 29, 1777 and located | | | | centuries, San José has survived against |
| within the Santa Clara Valley, this incredibly | | | | tremendous hardships such as war, drought, |
| ethnically diverse city was known first as El Pueblo | | | | earthquakes, and other disasters caused by man |
| de San José de Guadalupe. San José was the | | | | and nature. In the city today, community |
| first city recognized in Nueva California, a Spanish | | | | residents and tourists are quick to defend San |
| colony which later became Alta California. Before | | | | José against those who have negative thoughts |
| European settlers and Spanish soldiers came to | | | | or opinions toward what they consider to be the |
| occupy the area, it was the ancestral home of | | | | best city California has to offer. And San José |
| tribes of the Ohlone people. Franciscan | | | | does have a great deal to offer. Whether visitors |
| missionaries with orders from Spain established a | | | | might be seeking to experience the history, the |
| strong Christian presence in 1769. Until then, the | | | | architecture, the art and culture, or even |
| Ohlone people did not consider themselves to be | | | | excitement and entertainments of the modern |
| one tribe. There were actually over 50 separate | | | | day, any one of these pleasures or many others |
| and unique nations with diverse religious and | | | | can be found in San José. The historical sites of |
| cultural beliefs and practices. What remain of the | | | | San José are one of the biggest magnets that |
| nearly vanished Ohlone people today are also | | | | draw visitors to the city. One such place is the |
| known as the Costanoan and as the Muwekma | | | | Winchester Mystery House, which also falls into |
| Native American tribes. San José in the early | | | | other tourist categories such as Architecture, and |
| 1800's was a thriving farming community that | | | | Botanical Garden. The home was built in 1884 by |
| provided food and shelter for the Mexican troops | | | | Winchester Rifle Company heiress Sarah Pardee |
| fighting against the rule of Spain during the war in | | | | Winchester. As the story is told, poor Sarah |
| 1825. In 1846, San José surrendered to the | | | | suffered from severe superstitions and after the |
| United States in order to avoid the destruction of | | | | originally intended 8 rooms were complete she |
| the town and its people during the | | | | would continuously change the plans. She was |
| Mexican-American War. The city of San José | | | | convinced that evil spirits would harm her if she |
| became the capital of the newly acquired state of | | | | ever stopped building and adding on to the house. |
| California in 1850. During the civil war, there were | | | | Throughout the house, there are tricks and traps |
| a great many changes that took place in and | | | | that were supposed to protect Sarah from all the |
| around the vicinity of San José. And the | | | | spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles. To |
| discovery of gold in California would forever | | | | learn more about the Winchester Mystery House |
| change the city as well. In San José however, it | | | | and other attractions that only San José can |
| was the coalmines and consequently the silver | | | | offer, consider a visit to the city. |
| discovered in them that would bring fortune and | | | | Looking for San Jose Real Estate? Visit to find the |
| fame to some men while bringing others to the | | | | real estate you want! |
| brink of destitution and beyond. Through the | | | | |