The center is the continuation and expansion of a public observatory that has served San Francisco Bay Area schools and citizens with astronomy and science education programs since 1883.

The observatory moved to its Mountain Boulevard location near the current State Route 13 (37°47′13″N 122°10′42″W / 37.78694°N 122.17833°W / 37.78694; -122.17833 - telescope domes visible in satellite view) in 1915 due to increasing light pollution and urban congestion.

Throughout this time, Chabot Science Center, as it was renamed, was staffed mainly by Oakland Unified School District personnel and volunteers.

Recognizing the need to restore full access to the facility, either by repair or relocation, in 1989 Chabot Observatory & Science Center was formed as a Joint Powers Agency with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District, and the East Bay Regional Park District, in collaboration with the Eastbay Astronomical Society, and in 1992 was recognized as a nonprofit organization.

The project was led by Chabot's Executive Director and CEO, Dr. Michael D. Reynolds, breaking ground for the facility in October 1996 with construction of the new 88,000-square-foot (8,200 m2) Science Center beginning in May 1998.

[9] The Chabot Space and Science Center offers volunteer and educational opportunities to local teens, who work as explainers on the museum floor or on outreach trips.