now closed because of lack of funds
 |
| 4000 year old silt on the left is slipping past the 9000 year old gravel on the right. This is the trace of the Hayward Fault. |
Currently the Math Science Nucleus and Robert Wieckowski, a Fremont Councilmember and lawyer, is spear heading an efforts to develop strategies for an earthquake trail and plans for a more permanent exhibit. He feels strongly that the exhibit will help remind people of the dangers of the Hayward Fault not only in Fremont, but throughout the San Francisco Bay area.
Why is the Math Science Nucleus interested in the Hayward Fault in Fremont?
The Math Science Nucleus manages for Alameda County Flood Control and Conservation District the largest natural sag pond in the area, Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon. It is part of the Hayward Fault system. We conduct school field trips, tours, open hours, classes, and restoration at this facility.
The Math Science Nucleus manages the Fremont Natural History Museum ,obtained two years ago from two of the famous 1940’s Boy Paleontologists, Phil Gordon and William Charles, a collection of the Ice Age Fossils (Irvingtonian) that include mammoths, mastodons, sabertooth cats, giant sloths, short faced Cave Bears and other Pleistocene mammals that were exposed by the Hayward fault in the Irvington District of Fremont.
This exhibit which was first created by the 1906 Centennial Alliance in April, 2006 was scheduled to be bulldozed, but the Math Science Nucleus thought it was too important not to save.
Fremont Councilmember Bob Wieckowski, was so impressed that it was the only public exhibit of its kind in the United States and helped us save the exhibit.
Bob has worked tirelessly on getting funding for this exhibit by calling people who have an interest in Fremont. The first to come on board was Summerhill Homes, then Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station, and then NUMMI.
We were worried that we would not get enough funds and then David Perlman wrote a wonderful article in the SF Chronicle which caught the eye of Nancy Kincaid at the California Earthquake Authority, and they contributed the $46,000 which make it possible to fund the entire exhibit until after the Celebrate Fremont event.
But Bob continued to request funds so we can also provide field trips for students. We were able to secure grants from the Oakland A’s, Robeson Homes, and Seagate.
BART then wanted to contribute funds to help launch a capital campaign. To look into the possibility of a permanent earthquake exhibit in Fremont.
T
he exhibit has been
very popular with close to 20,000 people coming from all over the area.
The Math Science Nucleus feels that similar exhibit could encourage people to prepare about the next
earthquake through understanding the science of earthquakes and not to
fear them.
On November 3rd, Keith's Construction covered the earthquake trench to wait for the next reopening.
For if it wasn’t for the Hayward Fault system, Fremont would not have the rolling hills that it has today… nor would the fossils have been unearthed, nor would we have Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon. Earthquakes with their mighty energy can cause disasters, but they also create the beauty that we now see.
SUMMARY
2004 and before: Exhibit idea conceived by David Schwartz and Mary Lou Zoback of the U.S. Geological Survey
January 2005: Discussions begin between the 1906 Centennial Alliance and the City of Fremont
March 15, 2006: Excavation begins on trench pit
April 1, 2006: Scheduled opening delayed due to continual rainy weather
April 29, 2006: Opening Day!
June 30, 2006: Open House for visitors on last day. Followed by a funding reprieve by the California Earthquake Authority
July 14, 2006: Math Science Nucleus reopens the exhibit
July 15, 2006: Grand Re-Opening
September 5, 2006: Dedication Ceremony to discuss future of Exhibit
September 15-16, 2006: Celebrate Fremont Event with over
5000 people attending
October 22, 2006: Seismic Sunset
Oct 29, 2006: Exhibit closes
November 3: Exhibit is covered