Though everything at Berkeley seems to be in plain sight and open, there is so much more to our location than meets the eye. Recently, the media has been shining attention on the Lawson mine shaft.
If you’re the average undergrad student, like myself, you probably have walked by this mine more times than you can ever imagine with no knowledge of its existence. Right by north side, there is a metal door, and behind that plain metal door is a mine that was blasted around a century ago.
The mine is built under a geology professor, Andrew Lawson, and was used to train students on mining safety procedures. However, due to events in the 1970s, the mining area was closed to the public to prevent fraternity hazings within.
In the recent month, miners were given a tour in this mine. Within the mine is a seismological station that measures the earth’s movement around the Hayward fault. The seismographic data is transmitted into McCone Hall.
There’s a lot about Cal’s history that may not ever be uncovered again but it’s fascinating to imagine how much history is integrated into our seemingly simple campus. Who knows what else you might find while you’re here?