Museums and exhibits
The University has a wealth of treasures on display within walking distance of most of your classes. Admission is free when you show your Cal 1 Card (student ID).
The Bancroft Library, with its entrance facing the Campanile, is one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of manuscripts, rare books, and special collections in the United States. The Bancroft Library hosts changing public exhibits of its treasured collection of rare books and manuscripts. Also part of the Bancroft Library, the University Archives houses the official historical records of the University of California system, including those of the Berkeley campus.
The Bancroft Library is temporarily located at 2121 Allston Way, just off campus in downtown Berkeley until their building's renovation is complete. Some materials and library services may be unavailable while they are in their temporary quarters (bancroft.berkeley.edu).
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) is the center for the visual arts at Cal. One of the largest university museums in the country, both in size and attendance, BAM/PFA presents fifteen exhibitions and more than 400 film screenings each year. The museum's love-it-or-hate-it 1960's Modernist building has eleven galleries and houses a collection that spans 3000 years of Eastern and Western art. Come visit-museum admission is always free for Cal students-and see something you've never seen before (bampfa.berkeley.edu; W-Sa, 11am-5pm; Th, 11am-7pm; 2626 Bancroft Way; 510/642-0808, recording or 510/642-8734, TDD).
See here for more information about the Pacific Film Archive.
Hearst Museum of Anthropology exhibits art, artifacts, and archaeological samples from people all over the world (hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu; open W-Sa, 10am-4:30pm, Su, 12pm-4pm; 102 Kroeber Hall; 510/642-3682).
Lawrence Hall of Science features the best view in the Bay Area, interactive science games and exhibits, special events, and a planetarium. Admission is free to students with their Cal 1 Card (lhs.berkeley.edu; open daily 10am-5pm; accessible by Campus Bus Services, middle Centennial Drive; 510/642-5132).
Museum of Paleontology has fossils ranging from foraminiferan to plesiosaurus. Check out the full-sized T-Rex (www.ucmp.berkeley.edu; 1101 Valley Life Sciences Building; 510/642-1821).
Worth Ryder Art Gallery showcases student and faculty work in changing displays (art.berkeley.edu/rev2/wrGallery/index.html; open Tu-F, 1pm-4pm; 116 Kroeber Hall; 510/642-2582).