Summit Museum

Visitor Center

Visitor center telephone: 925-837-6119

Open Daily 10 am to 4 pm

There is a park entry fee. Admission to the museum is free.

You can call the park at 925-837-2525 to confirm that both the park and museum are open and verify hours of operation.

See the Park Location page for directions

Also visit the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center on the north side of the mountain

Diablo Peak | Cris Benton

15-million year old oysters decorate
the buildings exterior walls.

The Summit Visitor Center is located in the historic stone building atop Mount Diablo's highest peak. The tower was constructed during the late 1930's of fossiliferous sandstone blocks quarried in the park.

Renovated in 2010, the Visitor Center highlights the cultural and natural history of Mount Diablo State Park.

Also see the article on the history of the Summit Building, "The Mount Diablo Summit Building" by Linda Sanford, reprinted from the

Mount Diablo Review.

Exhibits

Impressive exhibits chronicle the history of the mountain and capture its majesty. A rock wall with an instructional video examines the geological forces that created the mountain. Panels describe the Native American history of the region. A diorama, complete with native sounds, offers an overview of the park's ecosystems. A model of the mountain acquaints visitors with important park locations. Splendid photographs enhance the visitor's experience.

In addition to the exhibits, the summit museum features a gift shop and audio-visual room. An elevator is available from the lower level entrance to the upper museum floor and observation roof. Check in at the lower level Welcome Desk.

Observation Deck

On the walk up the circular stairway to the observation deck, visitors are treated to a look at ancient marine fossils embedded in the sandstone walls of the summit building. In the rotunda, they are reminded of Mt. Diablo's importance as a survey point. Above the rotunda is a beacon, historically important to aviators and now lighted once a year on December 7 in memory of those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

Idaho visitor examines fossil embedded in the building stones.