In 1993, after prodigious fundraising efforts, MDIA had solicited support and donations to make a long-held dream come true. On October 16, the Summit Museum & Visitor Center opened. The Summit Building was renovated, a series of excellent displays depicting the history of the mountain, the geology of the mountain, a diorama showing the different eco-habitats and a Native-American display were created by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Interpretive Services specialist group. This was their last task before the group was disbanded in those year’s budget cuts. (Support your local parks, folks! Let your legislators know that you feel they are important -- Ed.) The Museum also contains the Summit Art Gallery and Interpretive Gift Store.

Now the trailer was no longer used for visitors and it languished as a store. MDIA’s goal was to move this unit to Mitchell Canyon as a second interpretive center. After many discussions with State Park management this goal is in sight. The trailer will be moved to the Mitchell Canyon parking lot in a prime position facing the parked cars with its back towards the junction of two trails.

At present an environmental impact report on the site is being prepared. Assuming that this is satisfactory park personnel will prepare the site, including providing power and water, MDIA will arrange for the trailer to be moved (slowly) and probably on a flatbed truck from the top of the mountain to the bottom and installed in its new home. Volunteers will then decorate, repair and renovate the unit (call 510/927-7222 if you are interested in helping).

The broken windows will be replaced, the dark wood panels will be painted a lighter color and a mountain shape relief will decorate the outside. Inside will be interpretive displays and materials, hopefully a children’s "hands-on" display and a very small retail facility. There will also be informational notice boards for some of the groups working on the mountain (MDIA, Department of Parks and Recreation, Save Mount Diablo, Mt. Diablo Observatory Association, etc.) It is also intended to provide a postcard facility to allow visitors to let their views be known to local legislators.

A slightly longer-term development will be the building of a deck outside the unit to double the exhibit space in good weather.

Opening hours have not yet been determined. The Center will be staffed by volunteers with the Park’s Volunteers in Parks Program ( call 510/673-2891 for details if you are interested in signing up). We are aiming to provide a small but valuable interpretive and information center for the thousands of visitors who use Mitchell Canyon as their starting point to enjoy the mountain.

MDIA would like to extend thanks Tosco Corporation for their extremely generous donation in making this facility possible and would also like to thank Save Mount Diablo and Mt. Diablo Observatory Association for their generous gifts.