Hawkins National Laboratory



The Hawkins National Laboratory, connected to the US Department of Energy, is a federal complex located in Hawkins, Indiana, USA. It is most likely controlled by the CIA or NSA, and is one of several national laboratories which grew out of the scientific endeavors of World War II. It controlled several subsidiaries, including Hawkins Power and Light. The lab was headed by Dr. Martin Brenner until the events of November 1983, whereafter Dr. Sam Owens took over as Director of Operations.

In the mid-20th century, the lab was host to MKUltra experiments, and at some point began abducting children to experiment on as well. During one experiment, a child test subject named Eleven made contact with the Demogorgon, accidentally opening the Gate to the Upside Down. For a year, an alien biological growth, stemming from the dimension, consumed the lower levels of the lab. Despite the lab's attempts at containing the growth, the Gate was able to grow to a gargantuan-size with a series of tunnels extending from it beneath Hawkins.

In 1984, an interdimensional entity called the Mind Flayer unleashed a pack of adolescent Demogorgons throughout the town. However, the Mind Flayer and his army was stopped when Eleven closed the Gate. Soon after, the lab was shut down following a disclosure of the lab's involvement in Barbara Holland's death.

In When the Cold Breeze Blows Away, the HNL is reopened by the Coalition of the Red Star in order to kidnap children to make them test subjects once again during World War III.