Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton - high-elevation city territory

Lick Observatory sits on Mount Hamilton at an elevation of about 4,200 feet and is within the municipal boundaries of the City of San Jose. The observatory, completed in the late 19th century, houses historic telescopes and is on a mountain peak that makes San Jose one of the few U.S. cities whose jurisdiction spans from tidal marshlands up to multi-thousand-foot summits. Mount Hamilton’s geology and elevation produce distinct microclimates and native plant communities compared with the valley below. The site remains a prominent geographic high point for Santa Clara County.