Mount Diablo State Park Summit Museum, Contra Costa County

About Mount Diablo State Park Summit Museum

The Summit Museum occupies a historic stone building constructed in the late 1930s atop Mount Diablo's highest peak in Contra Costa County. Renovated in 2010, the museum highlights the cultural and natural history of Mount Diablo State Park through impressive exhibits. A rock wall with instructional video examines the geological forces that created the mountain. Panels describe the Native American history of the region, while 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, and splendid photographs enhance the experience. The museum features a gift shop and audio-visual room, with an elevator available to the upper museum floor and observation roof. On the circular stairway to the observation deck, visitors see ancient marine fossils embedded in the sandstone walls, including 15-million-year-old oysters. The summit building served as a historic survey point and features a beacon historically important to aviators.