Community Corner

Oakland Museum to Reopen California Natural Sciences Gallery

The museum will celebrate the opening with lots of weekend activities, including food trucks and live entertainment on Friday night and free admission on Sunday.

By Bay City News Service

The Oakland Museum of California is about to open a renovated exhibit that allows visitors to explore the state's diverse natural habitats.

The new Gallery of California Natural Sciences comprises 25,000 square feet dedicated to educating the public about the state's climate, geology, ecosystems and wildlife, museum officials said.

The exhibit includes information on plant and animal species native to California, a walk- and crawl-through diorama that simulates a lava tube from the Mt. Shasta area, and a re-creation of Yosemite's Curry Village Lodge complete with rocking chairs.

Other parts of the exhibit focus on the desert environment of the Coachella Valley, the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the effects of humans on natural habitats, including in Oakland.

The new gallery took four years and $11.4 million to complete. The money came mostly from donations but also from Measure G, a bond measure passed by city voters in 2002.

Museum spokesman Scott Horton said the creation of the new exhibit is the final part of a $63 million transformation of the museum.

The public is invited to come celebrate and check out the exhibit this weekend, May 31-June 2.

The museum will be open until midnight on Friday for "Friday nights @ OMCA."

The Friday night activities (5 p.m. to midnight) include Off the Grid’s food trucks on 10th Street, California beer and wine at bars throughout the Museum, animal face-painting and a costume contest (dress up as your favorite California animal). DJs and surf bands will provide retro California style entertainment.

See more at: http://museumca.org/event/friday-nights-omca-gallery-california-natural-sciences-reopening#sthash.hX...

The new exhibit will be open Saturday during the museum's regular hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there will be free admission on Sunday.

More information on the new gallery is available online at http://museumca.org/view/gallery-natural-sciences.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

Piedmont Patch contributed to this article.


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