Collections & Research

Almost half of the Western Center’s building houses the research labs and curation facility that serve as a significant regional resource for research and advanced educational training. The facility is climate-controlled, equipped with security safeguards, and was designed as a repository for paleontological and archaeological materials.

The Collection

Nearly 1,000,000 specimens, artifacts, and accompanying documentation are housed at the Western Science Center.  The largest collections are the paleontology and archaeology collections, owned by MWD of Southern California, that resulted from the construction of Diamond Valley Lake.  Other MWD colelctions held in the repository include collections from the Inland Feeder Project, San Diego No. 6 Pipeline, and MWD Headquarters Project.

WSC collections include fossils from Temecula and Murrieta, and Riverside County.  The Harley Garbani collection is on loan to WSC.

Collections are accessible for qualified researchers according to the Western Center Collections Policy. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Paisley Cato via email. Click here to email your inquiry now.

Archaeological Collections

Paleontological Collections