Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

Free parking lot at Naglee Ave and Chapman St; card payment only

About this adventure

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San José's Rose Garden neighborhood holds the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America, from mummies and deity statues to everyday objects. The highlight for many children is the walk-through underground tomb, a composite replica modeled on the rock-cut tombs of the Beni Hasan cemetery in Middle Egypt from the Middle Kingdom (2066–1650 BCE), with images drawn from the tomb of the nomarch Khnumhotep II; the museum also runs a daily Tomb Tour workshop. A self-guided audio tour is available through the museum's app (download before arriving). Young people in grades K–12 can join the Junior Archaeologist program, a series of interactive archaeology and Egyptology workshops; after six workshops they qualify for a graduation ceremony in the tomb (see the museum calendar for the next one). The museum sits in Rosicrucian Park with free parking at Naglee Avenue and Chapman Street, one block east. Guests 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.