Part of the Silicon Valley area, San Jose is graced by the Guadalupe River and ranges considerably in height, from 13 feet below sea level to 2,125 feet above. Being located near the Lick Observatory has prompted the city to minimize its light pollution. This effort resulted in an asteroid being named after the city.

San Jose has many landmarks within and surrounding it, including Mount Hamilton, Hayes Mansion, Kelley Park and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. In addition, there are many artistic and cultural venues and institutions within the city.

ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

• The Triton Museum of Art, established in 1965, features a collection of art from local, regional and national artists. In this way, the museum acts as a local history archive as well as an art gallery. Focusing on artists from the Greater Bay Area, the exhibits promote a sense cultural and gender inclusivity. A large sculpture garden lies outside the museum proper, and is available for private rental.

• Founded in 1977, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles was the first museum in the US that was exclusively devoted to textile arts. The permanent collection of more than 500 pieces of clothing, quilts and hand-woven textiles focus primarily on artists of the 20th and 21st century, and exhibits are shown from all over the world. The facility also houses a research library with more than 500 titles on history and technique.

• The Japanese American Museum of San Jose was established in 1987 following an extensive research project into Japanese American farmers in the area, and defines its mission as one to preserve and share the art and culture of the people. The museum is located in the former home of a successful Japanese American doctor, and the collection, places emphasis on the people of the Greater Bay Area, including their immigration from Japan and internment during World War II.

• At the San Jose Museum of Art, visitors can a large collection of West Coast art of the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum's building has its own history, originally serving as a post office in 1892, and later becoming a library. It became the art museum in 1969. The museum features many exhibitions that combine art and technology, and has a wide array of sculpture, painting, digital media and photography.

• The Intel Museum
• Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
• History Park at Kelley Park
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
• Kaleid Gallery
• San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
• ANNO DOMINI Gallery
• Bruni Gallery
• Jeff Owen Artworks
• Peralta Adobe & Fallon House
• The Tech Museum
• Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery
• Works/San Jose

San Jose, California.

ARTISTIC INSTITIUTIONS

• Artistically inclined students can attend San Jose State University and enroll in one of their many art-based courses, including Art History, Photography, Studio Art and Theatre Arts. They school also offers Masters degrees in many subjects. The San Jose branch was the first campus opened by the California State University, established in 1857. More than 30,000 students pass through the institution's doors each year to study one of more than 100 fields.

• At Evergreen Valley College, students can study Art, Dance, Journalism and Theatre Arts. The school offers two-year associate degrees, and certificate courses to thousands of students each year, from all over the world. The first Evergreen Valley graduating class celebrated in 1975. The institution has recently build additional classrooms and laboratories, as well as a new Visual and Performing Arts Center.

Other Art Schools and Classes in the San Jose area

• Almaden School of Music and Art
• San Jose Art Academy
• The Marvegos Fine Art School
• My Art School
• Ex'pression College

NATIVE ARTISTS

Artistic people originally from, or currently living in San Jose.

• Artists Megan Mezmin, Bill Owens and Maynard Stewart.

• Authors Jim Vitti, Khaled Housseini, and Amy Tan.

• Actors Josh Holloway, Farley Granger, Bruce Jenner, and Kate Walsh.

• Athletes James Jones, Amy Chow, Dan Gladden, and Brent Jones.

ART AND CURLTURAL EVENTS

Annual Events

• Take in the Mountain View Art and Wine Festival, located in Downtown San Jose features, wine, art, craft, and music over two days in mid-September. Running since 1971, the festival serves as a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce, as well as an exciting event that has been hailed one of the best in the nation. Proceeds go toward creating programs to join the diverse communities of the Mountain View area.

• SubZERO is an arts and music festival that takes place in the SoFA district. Held over two days in June since 2008, the festival features artists, musicians and alt performers who fill the streets with sights and sound until midnight, including 100s of stands full of food, art and other local items of interest. The event is free, but offers "opt-in" passes for those who want to financially support the festival.

• The Cinequest Film Festival takes place each year from late February into early March. Cinequest is an organization based in Silicone Valley that strives to encourage and inspire youth in the world of creative technology. The festival showcases films from established and emerging artists, and celebrates the technology behind them. The 13-day event screens hundreds of films and has hosted more than 10,000 visiting artists since its inception in 1990.

Other Events and Sights to See

• San Jose Jazz Winter Fest, in February
• San Jose Obon Festival in July
• Santa Clara County Fair in August
• C2SV Technology Conference in September
• Fountain Blues Festival in July
• Alum Rock Park
• Hayes Mansion
• Japantown
• Mission Peak
• Santana Row
• Raging Waters Amusement Park
• Winchester Mystery House

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