Attractions
Nevada State Museum |
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Nevada State Museum Details
- Hours of operation: Friday - Monday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Cost: Admission to the Nevada State Museum is included with paid admission to the Springs Presere ($18.95 for adults, $17.05 for seniors 65 and older, students 18 and older and $10.95 for children 5-17 years old. Children 5 and younger are free).
- Payment options: Cash, credit cards accepted at Springs Preserve's check-in window.
- Reservations: Not required.
- Location: Located inside Springs Preserve.
- Age/Height/Weight restrictions: Not applicable.
Nevada State Museum Review
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Display Case
With so many interesting items now on exhibit at the Nevada State Museum, it may be difficult to see everything in one visit. Here are a few objects from the permanent gallery not to be missed.
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Park the DeLorean. Unhand the remote control. Step out of the phone booth. You won't need any of the clever contraptions from "Back to the Future," "Clik" or "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" in Las Vegas. Those who visit the Nevada State Museum, which recently reopened in an architecturally stunning building at the Springs Preserve, will come as close as is humanly possible to traveling backward and forward in time.
With half a million objects – ranging from Cretaceous fossils and Native American baskets to vintage slot machines and showgirl headdresses – housed in a two-story circular structure with a commanding view of the Las Vegas valley, the Nevada State Museum is poised for a bright future.
Established in 1982, the Nevada State Museum occupied a small, outmoded building at Lorenzi Park. Relocating to the Springs Preserve, which is situated only 15 minutes from the heart of the Strip, has had several benefits. Above all, the 180-acre attraction shares a similar vision of the past and future. Not only does the Springs Preserve examine the early development of Las Vegas, primarily as pertains to water (the attraction is run by the Southern Nevada Water Authority), but it also seeks a sustainable tomorrow. The Nevada State Museum complements that vision with a larger frame of reference. Exhibits here tell the story of the state as a whole – chronicling its mining, railroading, ranching and atomic testing days. This means visitors have an amazing opportunity to delve into two great cultural institutions and get a richer view of Nevada history in one place. What's more, there's only one admission charge.
At 70,000 square feet, double the size of its former location, the new building is spacious and airy. Stepping through the doors feels like an epic experience. Bathed in sunlight, the lobby has a high ceiling and earth-toned color palette. Standing tall as a centerpiece is an exact replica of a bristlecone pine, Nevada's state tree. With a bent and twisted trunk, it's the longest living tree in the world – a fitting symbol for a museum.
Visitors to the Nevada State Museum are now having serious fun exploring the past. The 13,000-square-foot permanent gallery takes you on a journey from pioneering and mining days through the modern age of gaming and megaresorts. Preserved native wildlife and must-see relics abound in every corner. In the fossil collection, magnifying glasses now enhance the experience.
Also competing for visitors' attention is photographer Cameron Grant’s "Unexpected Nevada" display in the adjacent temporary gallery. He has created layered images from the state's dramatic terrain and famous landmarks like Hoover Dam and printed them on aluminum.
The Cahlan Research Library is another important facet of the museum. Along with an extensive collection of rare and processed manuscripts, the library has newspapers from around the state, dating from the late 1800s to 1968.
And just like venerable museums in cities like New York and San Francisco, the Nevada State Museum boasts a hands-on educational lab for children, a gift store, a special events room and an auditorium.
An eclectic institution, it certainly seems to be fitting into its new digs.
-- By Renée LiButti
