Program · STEM & discovery

Coal Mine Experience at Black Diamond Mines

When

Recurring / by appointmentWeekend sessions (e.g. Sat Nov 7 at 10:30, 11:30 and 1:30; Sun Nov 8 at 10:30) – book each session on ActiveNet

Where

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve – Greathouse Visitor Center5175 Somersville Road, Antioch, CA 94509Open in Google Maps ↗

Ages

All participants must be age 7 or older, and parent participation is required.

Cost

$3 per person. $5 per vehicle parking fee applies when kiosk is attended.Registration required; arrive 15 minutes early.

Organizer

East Bay Regional Park District

A self-paced underground walk inside the Greathouse Visitor Center mine at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, once home to the most productive coal mines in California. Participants examine the sediment layers from below, learn about the dangerous work of 1850s–1900s coal miners through exhibits, and find out how and why coal earned the name 'black diamond' and how these mines fuelled Bay Area growth. Hard hats are required and provided; bring a jacket because the mine stays in the mid-50s year-round, and note that underground spaces may feel claustrophobic. Everyone must be 7 or older with a parent participating. Tours are limited to 15 people and cost $3 per person; registration is required, and the walk from the upper parking lot is steep and uneven. Sessions run several times on weekends.