The Western Science Center (WSC) is a museum located near Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California. Its mission is to preserve, curate, interpret, and educate the community on archaeological and paleontological artifacts and fossils. The WSC offers educational, research, and service opportunities to advance knowledge of environmental history and cultural heritage. It houses a significant collection of Native American artifacts and Ice Age fossils unearthed at Diamond Valley Lake, including notable specimens like "Max," the largest mastodon found in the western United States, and "Xena," a Columbian mammoth. The museum also features dinosaur fossils and provides insights into the geology of the San Jacinto Valley and the history of Indigenous peoples in the region. The WSC is committed to STEM education and serves as Riverside County's primary repository for archaeological and paleontological materials, with over a million specimens in its collection.
