HEMET/SAN JACINTO VALLEY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE
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MINOR ZOO
The personal collection of the Minor family. Exotic and domestic ani-
mals are both viewable at no cost to the public. The Zoo is located at
the east end of Park Hill on Park Avenue north of Florida Avenue.
RUSSIAN TRANSPOLAR RECORD FLIGHT SITE
In 1937, three Russians made a
nonstop polar flight
from
Moscow to San Jacinto. The
Soviet flyers covered 6,256.6
miles in 62 hours and 17 min-
utes. The site of the historical
landing is marked today by a
bronze plaque.
SIMPSON PARK
A 483-acre wilder-
ness park located in
the
Santa
Rosa
Hills south of the
city. Named for for-
mer Mayor James
Simpson, this park
features picnic fa-
cilities, restrooms,
hiking trails and a
spectacular view of
the San Jacinto Valley. Mt. San Jacinto, the citrus groves of Valle Vista,
Diamond Valley Lake, Mystic Lake, and the entire San Jacinto Valley
can be seen from Simpson Park. To get there, take Stanford Avenue,
south of Florida Avenue to Crest Drive right, to Vista Del Valle, left to
the top of the hill.
HARVARD STREET
As the focal point of the City's redevelopment activity, Harvard Street
is the heart of commercial downtown Hemet. Most of the buildings
were erected at the turn of the century while others were either rebuilt
or repaired after the 1918 earthquake.
SAN JACINTO MUSEUM
Learn about local history and early California indigenous people at the
San Jacinto Museum. The Museum, with an outpouring of community
support, recently moved to larger facilities inside Francisco Estudillo
Heritage Park located along North Dillon Street. Nearby is the Estudillo
Mansion. The mansion and Heritage Park are on the National Regis-
ter of Historic Places and on the California Register of Historic Re-
sources. San Jacinto Museum is open Friday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., and admission is free.
VICTORIAN BRIDAL MUSEUM
Did you know Queen Victoria started the tradition of the bride wear-
ing white? The House of Victorian Visions Bridal Museum features a
permanent collection of antique bridal gowns and accessories from the
Victorian era. Located in the historic Farmers' Corner in San Jacinto,
1965 Cascadian Way.
HEMET DAM AND LAKE HEMET
Completed in 1895, this dam was the largest and highest masonry dam
in the US at that time. The dam and lake are still a vital part of the
Valley's water system. The lake is in the mountains east of Hemet and
features day use, fishing, non-power boating and overnight camping.
Lake Hemet