You don’t need to fly to Giza, wander through London, or elbow your way around the Louvre in Paris to experience ancient Egypt. Tucked into a quiet neighborhood in San Jose, this unassuming museum delivers a surprisingly deep dive into one of the world’s most fascinating civilizations, jet lag-free!
At first glance, it feels almost out of place: palm trees, Silicon Valley nearby, and then suddenly… a complex inspired by ancient Egyptian temples hides the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. Once inside, you’ll be surrounded by mummies, hieroglyphs, and artifacts that date back thousands of years.
Inside the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Perhaps the state’s most underrated museum, the Rosicrucian is home to more than 4,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts, making it the largest collection of its kind in Western North America.
The collection spans thousands of years, from prehistoric tools to objects from Egypt’s early Islamic period. Some of the oldest items include a stone hand axe estimated to be over a million years old, while other pieces (like pottery) date back more than 6,500 years.
Founded in 1928 by the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), the museum started with a single artifact: a small statue of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. Over time, the collection grew through sponsored excavations in Egypt and acquisitions from institutions like the Egypt Exploration Society.
By 1966, the collection needed a new building, which was modeled after the Temple of Amon at Karnak, and is the one currently open to the public. Today, the museum sits on about 6.5 acres and includes not just galleries, but also a research library, a planetarium, and landscaped gardens inspired by ancient Egypt.
Inside, highlights include: human and animal mummies, elaborately decorated sarcophagi, and a full-scale replica of a rock-cut tomb you can walk through. You’ll also find everyday items such as cosmetic jars, tools, and even ancient board games. One standout piece is a well-preserved mummy known as Usermontu, believed to be a high-status individual from ancient Egypt.
📆 Hours: Fridays 10 AM – 5 PM. Saturdays/Sundays 11 AM – 6 PM
🎟️ Ticket info: $15 General admission. $12 for seniors (65+) and students with ID, and $10 for children (ages 7-17)
📍 Location: 1660 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95191