Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

Description

With an acronym like "SLAC", it has to be good.  (Not to be confused with "slack", for you Sub-Geniuses out there.)  SLAC is the longest linear accelerator in the world.  The facility was originally constructed to explore particle physics, and it has been very productive in that field, with at least three Nobel prizes having been awarded for work connected with SLAC.  It is currently undergoing major construction to change its focus to photon science.

SLAC was also peripherally involved in the home computer revolution, as well.  While it was not officially involved in computer research, it served as a friendly and convenient meeting place for some of the pioneering thinkers and doers who helped bring about that revolution.

Due to the construction, tours of SLAC have been suspended until sometime in 2009.  The date that tours will resume has not been announced; presumably it will depend on the completion date of the major construction work.  However, SLAC does maintain a Virtual Visitor Center with information and images about the facility, the work done there, and the physics underlying it.

Main Web Site

http://home.slac.stanford.edu

Location

2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA

Drive Time

from Ames (per Google maps):  24 minutes

Remember, though:  there are no public tours.  Nothing to see here, move along, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

Public Transit

Hours

Cost