Clayton Historical Society Museum

Wonderful exhibits showing authentic pieces worn by the original owners in the 1800s. Clayton still has authentic western restaurants, saloons, and a small original house which is now a museum. We love Clayton and cherish that some of it still remains. There are even a few hitching posts. Downtown has a terrific park and great summer concerts.

Clayton is a small Bay Area Town nestled at the base of majestic Mt. Diablo just east of Walnut Creek and Concord. Established in 1854 as a mining town, it stayed rural with ranches, cattle,horses and vineyards until discovered by builders in the 1960's. This Museum used to be the Founder's home (Joel Clayton) and has been relocated on what is Clayton's Main Street. The citizen volunteers have gathered here all sorts of Clayton history from it's Gold Rush mining days when everyone was looking for gold, but instead found coal and very good quarry rock! You'll find artifacts, pictures, books and very helpful volunteers in our very active Historical Society when it's Open on certain events, and always on Wednesdays, or by appointment such as our school classes often do as the students are always fascinated by it, it's artifacts, mining items and soon an antique tractor used on the ranches and farms. Our citizens and visitors love that Clayton has retained it's past. It's like the Sierra Foothills towns, but right here and easy to get too! - By Pete Laurence a former Mayor

Come to the Clayton Historical Society Museum, located in the house that was the original, gen-u-ine, Joel Clayton's second residence in our little town. The museum is located on Main Street and features a drought resistant garden outside. Inside, treasures abound. Learn about local history, see photographs of Clayton's past and visit the old Clayton Jail behind the museum. There are permanent and changing displays throughout the year. A nook has been created for children to touch, feel, and use dial telephones, typewriters, and old fashioned adding machines as well as other antiquities. For a calendar of events, visit claytonhistory.org.

A friend and I stopped by Sunday afternoon after our hike. The people there were super friendly, super fun and very knowledgeable. Great place, go check it out.