The Hall of Health, a hands-on health museum and science center founded in 1974, has been sponsored by Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland (CHRCO) since 1989 (see Web site, www.hallofhealth.org). The Hall of Health is dedicated to promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health. The museum occupies a 6,200- square-foot site in downtown Berkeley. The philosophy of the Hall of Health is that health and human biology go hand in hand: an understanding of how the body works provides a meaningful context for all of the practices that promote good health. More than 350,000 visitors of all ages have used the museum’s interactive exhibits to learn about the workings of the body, the value of sound diet and exercise, and the destructive effects of smoking and drug abuse.

Each year more than 12,000 children visit the Hall of Health on classroom field trips or with other organized groups, such as Scout troops. Volunteer docents give presentations, lead discussions, and help visitors use the exhibits. Worksheets are available to reinforce the visual and experiential lessons.

The Hall of Health sponsors special programs and events for families. These include health and safety festivals, and Kids on the Block Puppet Shows on physical, mental, medical, and cultural differences.

The Hall of Health opened in 1974 as a temporary exhibit in the main lobby of Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. Public response was so enthusiastic that the Hall of Health was soon moved to a semi-permanent home. Ten to twelve thousand visitors were attending annually by 1989.

The Hall of Health is located at 2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level underneath Mel's Restaurant and the Shattuck Cinemas), Berkeley, CA 94704. Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday. Call (510) 549-1564 to confirm schedule. Admission is $5.00 per person, age four and older.   More detail...