Making its only West Coast stop at the Skirball Cultural Center, Paul Simon: Words & Music—a traveling exhibition organized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum—illustrated how the legendary artist’s music has reflected social and cultural ideals.

Renovated in 2011, the Hall of Life showcases the Earth’s 4.6 billion year old history. The circular hall (3,800 sq. ft.) inspires visitors to seek a deep appreciation of their place in the history of the planet, challenging them with a fundamental question: “What are you going to do with your moment of time?” Design highlights include wall-size murals showing ancient environments and a timeline depicting important episodes in the history of life. Divided into six sections, Hall of Life takes visitors through basic scientific principles, major eras of geologic time, and student- and staff-designed exhibits, featuring current museum research or recently discoveries made by students during fieldwork.