Western Science Center

Western Science Center is at 2345 Searl Pkwy. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, this area was home to mastodons, mammoths, giant ground sloths and saber-toothed cats. During excavation of nearby Diamond Valley Lake, a treasure trove of these animals’ fossilized bones was uncovered; the museum displays some of the most outstanding of these finds. The largest gallery features “Max,” said to be the largest mastodon found in the western United States, and a glass-covered pit re-creating the site where a young mastodon nicknamed “Little Stevie” was unearthed.

The museum also has archeology displays of prehistoric Native American basketry, items from a late 1880s home, a Discovery Lab filled with interactive exhibits, a 270-degree movie theater and special exhibits.

Time: Allow 30 minutes minimum.