The 10 Best Museums in Nevada!

The state of Nevada is known for its beautiful natural wonders, expansive deserts, a long history of mining adventures and of course the glitzy cities like Las Vegas and Reno. Nevada is rich in history, from native cultures and rich mining history right up to the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment options in Las Vegas. These top 10 museums are as unique as each part of Nevada with a little sparkle thrown in for modern city lights.

Beatty Museum & Historical Society, Beatty, NV

Explore hundreds of miles of the mud mounds and the Ordovician fossils at the outdoor nature portion of this museum. Inside get a feel for what life was like for miners in the early 1900s and hear a local take on the legendary ghost towns of Nevada.

Douglas County Historical Society, Douglas County, NV

Douglas County is not a single museum but a network of local historical markers and landmarks. Each has rich ties to both native cultures and early boom towns. They offer a unique glimpse into some of the more interesting aspects of the Nevada history through “Haunted History” lectures, cemetery tours and ever-changing displays of local history from their vault of artifacts. Their locations include Carson Valley Museum, Museum Genoa and Courthouse.

Pahrump Valley Museum, Pahrump, NV

This museum and the outside exhibits are an amazing way to explore the beauty that is the Nevada high desert. The Cactus Gardens and nature trails are a must-see part of this stop, along with native artifacts, exhibits about the indigenous animals of the desert, early settlements of Pahrump and fossils. The collection also contains examples of many of the minerals and rocks found in the area as well as a glimpse into the lives of early prospectors. For the very adventurous, there are classes to introduce even beginners to desert hiking.

Searchlight Historic Museum, Searchlight, NV

Before the lights of Las Vegas, Searchlight was the boom town of Nevada. The museum gives you an up close and personal view of the rise and fall of a boom town that at one time produced 249,997 ounces of gold but would dwindled down to a population of 50.

The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is known worldwide for the bright lights and neon signs that keep the city alive 24/7. Paying tribute to some of the most noteworthy signs in Las Vegas, this museum offers both a self-guided walking tour of its collection of retired historical signs as well as guided tours from the early days to present flashy Sin City.

Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum, Boulder City, NV

The Hoover Dam is a must-see destination in Nevada and the dedicated museum adds to the experience. Visitors can explore the building of the dam, the science behind the design as well as hands on exhibits for the entire family. One of the most unique parts of the museum is that it allows visitors to explore life during the building of the dam from the perspective of the builders, their spouses and even the children living in the desert extremes.

The Mob Museum, Las Vegas, NV

The history of Las Vegas has often been romanticized but there is also a darker side to the focus on gambling and creating wealth by any means possible. The mob ties and organized crime is explored in the hands and interactive stories told from the comfort of what was once an active courthouse in old Las Vegas. Many of the trials for the few organized crimes that went to trial in Nevada would pass through this courthouse.

Central Nevada Museum, Tonopah, NV

The gem of central Nevada, the museum has been voted the best museum of the area because it combines indoor and outdoor exhibits that take the visitors from prehistoric fossils and native history all the way through ghostly mining towns. The end of this adventure touches on modern landscapes that combine the beauty of the desert with recent development.

Carillon Historical Park, Dayton, NV

Housed in the oldest school structure in Nevada, this small museum gives a unique glimpse of life in a mining town during the gold rush and local boom. This includes mining activities, the development of the local railroad and early settlement. Beyond the school house that holds the main collection, there is also a railroad depot in town that is being restored to add to the history.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, Las Vegas, NV

Housed in one of the major hotels on the Las Vegas strip, this art space is playfully called the place where fine art takes a vacation. Many visitors return often as the traveling art works can range from Warhol and Picasso to Faberge. The traveling installations give visitors the chance to see famous works you often only read about it history books.

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1900 Logan Field Road, Tonopah, NV
History of the Central Nevada Museum:The Central Nevada Museum was founded in 1981 by the Central Nevada Historical Society.Construction was financ... Read More
417 Main Street, Beatty, NV
Mission : It is the intention of the Beatty Museum and Historical Society to preseve the history of the Bullfrog Mining District and Southern Nye... Read More
Highway 374, Beatty, NV
Mission: To preserve, present, and encourage artistic exploration in and of the Amargosa Desert-an evocative landscape along the eastern edge of D... Read More
401 East Basin Avenue, Pahrump, NV
Mission Statement:The purpose of the PAHRUMP VALLEY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY is to collect, preserve and study those objects, photographs, loc... Read More
10 North Monroe Street, Eureka, NV
The Eureka Sentinel Museum is housed in the 1879 Eureka Sentinel Newspaper Building. This structure was used as the Newspaper Office and residence ... Read More
925 East Street, Hawthorne, NV
History : On September 15, 1930, the Secretary of the Navy commissioned the U. S. Naval Ammunition Depot at Hawthorne, Nevada. This did not happen... Read More
400 Tenth Street, Hawthorne, NV
About Us: The Mineral County Museum is located at the corner of Tenth and D Streets in Hawthorne, Nevada. Directly across the street from the rest... Read More
9600 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV
Mission Statement: The Las Vegas Art Museum is dedicated to engaging visitors in the international culture of contemporary art. The museum will ac... Read More
309 South Valley View Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV
Mission Statement: The Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, a state agency, is an educational institution whose purpose is to advance the ... Read More
2000 Aultman Street, Ely, NV
The first people in White Pine County were the Shoshone Indians. In 1860, the Pony Express Telegraph and the Overland Stage brought explorers and p... Read More
360 Promenade Place, Las Vegas, NV
Prior to opening its doors in a new location at Symphony Park and with a new name, the DISCOVERY Children's Museum, Lied Discovery Children's Museu... Read More
900 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV
Mission:To inspire, through educational exhibits and programs, a better understanding and appreciation of the natural world, the sciences and ourse... Read More
300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV
Mission StatementTo Advance The Public Understanding Of Organized Crime’s History And Impact On American Society.Key tenets of this mission i... Read More
770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV
Mission Statement The Neon Museum's mission is to collect, preserve, study and exhibit neon signs and associated artifacts to inspire educational a... Read More
1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum:- A historic passenger railroad featuring train rides pulled by century-old steam engines- Also offering hundred... Read More
1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV
In the 1990 the Depot Building and the Freight Barn were given to the State of Nevada for the establishment of a museum in eastern Nevada. As the n... Read More
3680 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV
The Hispanic Museum of Nevada is dedicated to promoting awareness, education and resources of the diverse Hispanic cultures and traditions to enhan... Read More
755 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV
About Us The Atomic Testing Museum portrays world history through varied representations of the story of the Nevada Test Site and its programs. T... Read More
4505 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV
Mission StatementThe UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum, under the auspices of the Department of Art and the College of Fine Arts, strives to provide a w... Read More
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