Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
During the pandemic, the Lawrence Hall of Science has been closed and no longer greets energetic children with a science museum and learning center for the wonders of the natural world. Despite its closure, it remains a premier view spot of the Bay.
Nestled in the Berkeley Hills high up behind the U.C. Berkeley campus, the viewpoint rewards the diligent traveler and is accessible by car or the AC Transit 65 bus. Be warned, however, that finding the intersection of Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Centennial Dr. takes attention to detail and an appreciation for directions. Still, the destination easily justifies the journey.
The Lawrence Hall is always a sight to behold whether you are visiting at sunrise and the sun will warm your back as you look out at the Golden Gate Bridge or at sunset when the fiery red and orange hues of the sky settle over the water. Take a moment to escape your Zoom screen and reinvigorate yourself. Find a deep sense of beauty with a lunchtime picnic or a nighttime gaze at the stars.
The Hall not only has the views and exhibits as attractions but also the amazing sculptures that live outside on the deck. As you walk out of the parking lot and towards the building, you will be greeted by the life-sized fin whale, aptly named Pheena, who is back on location after a hiatus for restoration. Young people — and those young at heart — can delight in climbing the 50-foot long, 3,000-pound fiberglass whale. Another favorite outdoor sculpture is the horizontal ladder of DNA. The double helix is often filled with kids avidly scaling the colored base pairs.
These two monuments serve as an indication of what goes on inside the Lawrence Hall of Science, where youth scientific education is a top priority. The Hall is home to many exhibits, including the popular biotechnology learning lab and planetarium. Prepandemic, these exhibits were often flooded with children eager to explore and learn, as well as field trip groups from various schools from around the Bay Area.
Though the Hall will be closed to the public at least until June of next year, it continues to educate young people all over The Bay by hosting a variety of online classes, virtual camps and science live streams.
Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
While in the pandemic, although the Hall is closed as a museum, cars continue to ferry visitors in and out of the parking lot. For anywhere from fifteen minutes to a few hours, to gain perspective overlooking the great expanse that is the Bay Area, people can gaze either from their spots in the parking lot or make their way over towards the viewing deck to mingle with the sculptures next to the Hall.
Any location, however, is only as good as its memories. Lawrence Hall is the site of many fond memories for me. I recall visiting the Hall with my family to see the lunar eclipse in 2015 when, of course, the rest of Berkeley had the same idea. Hundreds of people jammed together to get a look at the spectacular blood moon that was shining in the night sky. It seemed as though all of Berkeley had come to experience this astronomical event, together, as a city.
It was amidst that crowd I spotted Pheena, and I knew that atop her back I would get the best view. I hoisted myself up next to the other scrambling kids, and the crimson moon waiting for me once I reached the top of her back was absolutely breathtaking.
As I looked around, I noticed that people were conflicted about where to look. The moon was beautiful, enticing, but so was the glowing San Francisco skyline. It was impossible to decide what view to take in. What a wonderful dilemma to enjoy.
