Nevada History and Museums - Complete Directory 2025
Explore Nevada's rich history through 100+ museums across the Silver State. From world-class Las Vegas attractions like The Mob Museum and Neon Museum to historic mining museums in Virginia City and Tonopah, cultural institutions in Carson City and Reno, railroad museums, atomic testing history, ghost town museums, and countless local history centers showcasing Nevada's mining heritage, gaming history, and pioneer spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Museums
The most popular museums in Las Vegas include The Mob Museum (National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement) open 9am-9pm daily with adult admission $34.95, The Neon Museum showcasing historic Las Vegas signs open 2pm-10pm with admission from $25-$35, National Atomic Testing Museum affiliated with the Smithsonian open 10am-6pm daily with adult admission $29, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Springs Preserve and Origen Museum, Discovery Children's Museum, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.
Yes, Nevada has 27 free museums and attractions. Notable free museums include Central Nevada Museum in Tonopah (free admission, donations accepted, open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm), Goldwell Open Air Museum near Rhyolite, museums at Great Basin National Park, Nevada Museum of Art in Reno offers free admission on Second Saturdays and free for Nevada high school students with ID, The Discovery in Reno offers $5 admission on Wednesdays after 4pm, and children 17 and under get free admission to Nevada State Museums in Carson City and Boulder City.
Nevada's premier mining museums include The Way It Was Museum in Virginia City showcasing Comstock Lode history with Cornish pumps and mining equipment, Chollar Mine offering 45-minute guided tours 400 feet underground, Central Nevada Museum in Tonopah with outdoor mining equipment including a 10-stamp mill, Tonopah Historic Mining Park open daily 8am-4pm on original mining claim sites, Northeastern Nevada Museum in Elko, and Marshall Mint Museum in Virginia City featuring minerals, gems, and Nevada mining history.
Carson City museums include Nevada State Museum housed in the former Carson City Mint open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm with $10 adult admission (free for children 17 and under), Nevada State Railroad Museum open Thursday-Monday 9am-4:30pm with $10 adult admission featuring Virginia and Truckee Railroad locomotives and cars ranked #6 best train museum in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure, Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, and Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum preserving one of the only historic American Indian boarding schools still standing in the country.
The Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas at 300 Stewart Avenue is open daily from 9am to 9pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). General admission is $34.95 for adults and $19.95 for youth ages 11-17, with children 10 and under free. Save $7 by purchasing online for evening visits after 5pm or morning visits between 9-11am. The museum features four floors of exhibits including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall, Kefauver Hearings courtroom replica, and interactive displays. The Underground Speakeasy and Distillery has separate hours.
Reno museums include Nevada Museum of Art open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm (Thursdays until 8pm) with $15 general admission, offering free admission on Second Saturdays and to UNR, TMCC, and WNC students with ID, The Discovery children's museum open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm (Wednesdays until 8pm) with $5 admission on Wednesday evenings after 4pm and free admission for TMCC and UNR students, Nevada Historical Society home to American Gaming Archives (temporarily closed for renovations until August 2026), National Automobile Museum, and Animal Ark wildlife sanctuary.
The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas at 755 East Flamingo Road documents nuclear testing history at the Nevada Test Site located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. This Smithsonian-affiliated museum established in 2005 is open daily 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm) with adult admission $29, seniors and military $27, Nevada residents $25. Exhibits include the Ground Zero Theater experience, Atomic Odyssey exhibit, Area 51 exhibit, first-person narratives, artifacts, and interactive displays celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025.
Nevada has three major railroad museums: Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City ranked #6 best U.S. train museum featuring Virginia and Truckee Railroad collection open Thursday-Monday 9am-4:30pm with $10 adult admission, Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City operating heritage railroad excursions on the historic Boulder City Branch Line built for Hoover Dam construction with 7-mile 45-minute round trips, and Nevada Northern Railway Museum in Ely offering hands-on experiences, engine shop tours, and train rides on preserved historic railroad equipment.
Nevada has over 600 ghost towns, the most of any U.S. state. Top ghost town museums include Rhyolite Ghost Town near Beatty featuring the 1903 Tom Kelly Bottle House made from 50,000 bottles, historic train depot museum, Goldwell Open Air Museum with outdoor sculptures including the famous Last Supper installation, Goldfield with museums showcasing Gold Rush artifacts, Gold Point Museum preserving mining history, Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park combining ghost town with fossil museum, and numerous small museums in historic mining towns across Nevada's public lands.
Nevada has over 100 museums including seven Nevada State Museums operated by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, 27 free museums, 25 nature and natural history museums, organized crime and gaming history museums, mining and railroad museums, art museums, children's museums, local historical societies, automobile museums, cultural heritage centers, ghost town museums, aviation museums, and specialty museums covering topics from atomic testing to neon signs. Museums range from world-class Smithsonian affiliates in Las Vegas to small-town volunteer-run local history museums across rural Nevada.
Nevada Constitution and Statehood
Nevada became the 36th state admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864, during the Civil War. Known as the "Battle Born State," Nevada's constitution and statehood history is preserved in museums across the state, particularly at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, which houses the former Carson City Mint where the state's first silver dollars were produced.
Las Vegas Museums - World-Class Attractions
- The Mob Museum (National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement)
- Address: 300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89101
- Phone: (702) 229-2734
- Hours: Daily 9am-9pm (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
- Admission: Adults $34.95, Youth 11-17 $19.95, Children 10 and under free. Save $7 with online purchase for evening (after 5pm) or early morning (9-11am) visits
- Features: Four floors of exhibits including St. Valentine's Day Massacre brick wall, Kefauver Hearings courtroom replica, interactive lineup display, Path to Prohibition exhibit. Underground Speakeasy and Distillery open Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight
- The Neon Museum - Las Vegas Sign Boneyard
- Address: 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas NV 89101
- Phone: (702) 387-6366
- Hours: Monday-Sunday 2pm-10pm. Last admissions: Nov-Feb 9pm, Mar-Apr 10pm, May-Aug 11pm, Sep-Oct 10pm
- Admission: Evening admission from $35, Daytime admission from $25 (Nov-Mar pricing). Online reservations strongly encouraged. Cashless venue
- Features: Six-acre outdoor exhibition space showcasing historic neon signs from old Las Vegas casinos and businesses including iconic pieces from Stardust, Desert Inn, Moulin Rouge, and other legendary establishments
- National Atomic Testing Museum (Smithsonian Affiliate)
- Address: 755 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas NV 89119
- Phone: (702) 794-5151
- Hours: Daily 10am-6pm (Last entry 5pm)
- Admission: Adults $29, Seniors and Military/First Responders $27, Nevada Residents $25
- Features: Smithsonian-affiliated museum documenting nuclear testing at Nevada Test Site 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Established 2005, celebrating 20th anniversary in 2025. Exhibits include Ground Zero Theater experience, Atomic Odyssey, Area 51 exhibit introduced 2012, first-person narratives, impressive artifacts, theatrical devices, environmental recreations, and interactive exhibits
- Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
- Address: Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Boulevard, Las Vegas NV 89107
- Phone: (702) 486-5205
- Hours: Thursday-Monday 9am-4pm
- Admission: Adults $18.95, Children 3-17 $10.95. Nevada Residents: Adults $9.95, Children $4.95. Free admission with Springs Preserve membership
- Features: Natural and cultural history exhibits, Origen Museum Experience, part of seven Nevada State Museums system
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum
- Address: 900 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas NV 89101
- Phone: (702) 384-3466
- Features: Dinosaur exhibits, marine life displays, taxidermy animals, hands-on science exhibits for families
- Discovery Children's Museum
- Address: 360 Promenade Place, Las Vegas NV 89106
- Phone: (702) 382-5437
- Features: Interactive children's museum with science exhibits, Summit exhibit (three-story science and learning experience), hands-on activities for kids
- Springs Preserve and Origen Museum
- Address: 333 S. Valley View Boulevard, Las Vegas NV 89107
- Phone: (702) 822-7700
- Features: 180-acre cultural and historical attraction with botanical gardens, museums, trails, sustainability exhibits, archaeological site, and Nevada State Museum
- Clark County Museum
- Address: 1830 South Boulder Highway, Henderson NV 89015
- Phone: (702) 455-7955
- Features: Southern Nevada history from prehistoric times to present, Heritage Street with historic buildings, exhibits on Las Vegas development and Clark County history
- Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
- Address: 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas NV 89109
- Phone: (702) 693-7871
- Features: Rotating exhibitions featuring works by renowned artists, museum-quality fine art exhibitions
- The Arts Factory
- Address: 107 East Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas NV 89104
- Phone: (702) 383-3133
- Features: Arts complex housing multiple galleries, studios, and exhibition spaces in downtown Las Vegas Arts District
- Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art (UNLV)
- Address: 4505 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas NV 89154
- Phone: (702) 895-3381
- Features: Contemporary art exhibitions, regional art, Native American collections, university museum
- Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery (UNLV)
- Address: 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas NV 89154
- Phone: (702) 895-3893
- Features: Contemporary art exhibitions, student shows, visiting artist exhibitions
- Las Vegas Art Museum
- Address: 9600 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89117
- Phone: (702) 360-8000
- Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum
- Address: McCarran International Airport (now Harry Reid International Airport), Las Vegas NV 89111
- Phone: (702) 455-7968
- Features: Aviation history exhibits showcasing Southern Nevada's aviation heritage, located in airport terminals
- Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
- Address: 3377 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 2001 (Venetian Resort), Las Vegas NV 89109
- Phone: (702) 862-7800
- Features: Wax museum featuring lifelike celebrity figures, interactive experiences
- Pinball Hall of Fame
- Address: 4925 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas NV 89119
- Features: World's largest pinball machine collection with over 200 playable games from the 1950s to present
- Shelby American Heritage Center
- Address: 6405 Ensworth Street, Las Vegas NV 89119
- Features: Shelby Cobra and American muscle car history, automotive museum and factory tour
Carson City Museums - Nevada State Capital
- Nevada State Museum, Carson City
- Address: 600 North Carson Street, Carson City NV 89701
- Phone: (775) 687-4810
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm (Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day)
- Admission: Adults $10, Children 17 and under free, Museum members free
- Features: Nevada's oldest cultural institution housed in former Carson City Mint. Exhibits include Nevada history from prehistoric times through statehood, Comstock Lode silver mining, Carson Mint coin press demonstrations, natural history with mammoth fossils, Native American artifacts, and changing exhibitions. Executive Director Jen Roger hired July 2025 after national search
- Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City
- Address: 2180 South Carson Street, Carson City NV 89701
- Phone: (775) 687-6953
- Hours: Thursday-Monday 9am-4:30pm (Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day)
- Admission: Adults $10, Children 17 and under free
- Features: Ranked #6 Best Train Museum in U.S. by Travel + Leisure magazine. Extraordinary collection of Virginia and Truckee Railroad locomotives and cars from late 19th and early 20th centuries. Still-operating steam locomotives, railroad equipment, artifacts, documents, exhibits. Train rides offered on select weekends. Part of seven Nevada State Museums system operated by Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
- Children's Museum of Northern Nevada
- Address: 813 North Carson Street, Carson City NV 89701
- Phone: (775) 884-2226
- Features: Hands-on interactive exhibits for children, one of northwestern Nevada's best children's museums, educational programs and activities
- Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum
- Address: 5366 Snyder Avenue, Carson City NV 89701
- Phone: (775) 687-8333
- Features: One of only historic boarding schools for American Indian children still standing in the country. Preserves history of Stewart Indian School (1890-1980), cultural exhibits, Native American art, educational programs, historic stone buildings on National Register of Historic Places
- Warren Engine Company No. 1 Museum
- Address: 777 South Stewart Street, Carson City NV 89701
- Features: Historic fire station museum, antique firefighting equipment, Carson City fire department history
Reno and Northern Nevada Museums
- Nevada Museum of Art
- Address: 160 West Liberty Street, Reno NV 89501
- Phone: (775) 329-3333
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm, Thursday 10am-8pm (Closed Mondays)
- Admission: General $15, Seniors and Students $13, Children 6-12 $3, Children 5 and under free, Members free. Free admission on Second Saturdays with hands-on art activities, storytelling, docent tours, live performances. Free admission for Nevada high school students with ID and students from University of Nevada Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College with student ID
- Features: Only accredited art museum in Nevada, contemporary art collections, photography, landscape art of American West, changing exhibitions, Sky Room with panoramic Sierra Nevada views, educational programs
- The Discovery (Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum)
- Address: 490 South Center Street, Reno NV 89501
- Phone: (775) 786-1000
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, Wednesday 10am-8pm (Closed Mondays)
- Admission: Every Wednesday beginning at 4pm, museum admission is $5 per person (museum open until 8pm). Free admission for Truckee Meadows Community College and University of Nevada Reno students with valid student ID
- Features: Northern Nevada's premier science and children's museum, hands-on exhibits, STEM learning experiences, Cloud Climber exhibit, Build It exhibit
- Nevada Historical Society
- Address: 1650 North Virginia Street, Reno NV 89503
- Phone: (775) 688-1190
- Status: Temporarily closed to general public during building renovations from January 1, 2025 until August 2026
- Features: Nevada's oldest cultural institution, home to American Gaming Archives, Reno Gallery celebrating iconic city moments and characters, research library, manuscript collections, photograph archives, Nevada history exhibits
- National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)
- Address: 10 South Lake Street, Reno NV 89501
- Phone: (775) 333-9300
- Features: World-class automobile museum with over 200 vintage vehicles from Harrah's collection, street scenes from different eras, rare classic cars, automotive history
- Wilbur D. May Museum
- Address: 1595 North Sierra Street, Reno NV 89503
- Phone: (775) 785-5961
- Features: Collections from world traveler Wilbur May, eclectic artifacts from around the world, arboretum, Great Basin Adventure indoor/outdoor exhibits
- Animal Ark
- Address: 1265 Deerlodge Road, Reno NV 89508
- Phone: (775) 970-3111
- Features: Wildlife sanctuary and nature center with rescued animals, educational programs about Nevada wildlife
- Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center (UNR)
- Address: 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno NV 89557
- Phone: (775) 784-4812
- Features: Planetarium shows, science exhibits, astronomy programs, star theater
Virginia City Mining Museums and Historic Sites
- The Way It Was Museum
- Address: 113 North C Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Phone: (775) 847-0766
- Features: Centrally located on C Street (rated Top 10 Historic Main Street in America). Exhibits showcase Comstock Lode mining era daily life including Cornish pumps, mineral collections, fully-equipped blacksmith shop, Victorian women's attire, rare photographs, information on Sutro Tunnel, milling and mining equipment from 1850s-1880s gold and silver boom
- Historic Fourth Ward School Museum
- Address: 537 South C Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Phone: (775) 847-0975
- Features: Last four-story school building of its kind still standing in U.S. Built 1876, visitors can sit at same wooden desks students used, restored classrooms, Nevada education history, Victorian-era school exhibits, panoramic views from upper floors
- Chollar Mine Tour
- Address: 565 South F Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: 45-minute guided underground mine tour at 400-foot level, original square-set timbering, silver ore, rock drills, displays of mining equipment, authentic Comstock Lode mining experience
- Marshall Mint Museum
- Address: 8 North C Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: Custom gold and silver medallions, nuggets, collector coins and currency, bullion, jewelry, world-class mineral and gem museum showcasing Nevada mining specimens
- Comstock History Center
- Address: 20 North E Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: Research library, Comstock mining history archives, photographs, maps, genealogy resources
- St. Mary in the Mountains Church and Museum
- Address: 50 East E Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: Historic 1876 Catholic church, stained glass windows, religious artifacts, Comstock era history
- Mackay Mansion Museum
- Address: 129 South D Street, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: Mining superintendent's mansion from 1860s, period furnishings, mining baron John Mackay history
- Virginia and Truckee Railroad Museum
- Address: Washington and F Streets, Virginia City NV 89440
- Features: Historic railroad depot, V&T Railroad history, artifacts, vintage photographs, train memorabilia
Tonopah Mining Museums
- Central Nevada Museum
- Address: 1900 Logan Field Road, Tonopah NV 89049
- Phone: (775) 482-9676
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm (Closed Sundays and Mondays)
- Admission: Free (donations accepted and appreciated)
- Features: Part research library, part museum illuminating Tonopah history as "Queen of the Silver Camps." Exhibits cover Esmeralda and Nye County history from prehistoric to present. Outdoor exhibits include replicated Old West town with miner's cabins, saloon, blacksmith shop, railroad yard, early mining equipment, 10-stamp mill, ore cars. Thoughtful and fascinating exhibits showcasing Tonopah silver mining boom
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park
- Address: 110 Burro Avenue, Tonopah NV 89049
- Phone: (775) 482-9274
- Hours: 7 days a week 8am-4pm (Closed all Federal and State U.S. Holidays)
- Features: Located on site of original mining claims that started rush to Tonopah. Preserved and restored mining equipment and buildings, historic exhibits, video presentations in on-site theater, self-guided tour, headframes, mine shafts, mining history brought to life
- Tonopah Mining Museum
- Address: 301 Brougher Avenue, Tonopah NV 89049
- Features: Additional mining history exhibits, artifacts from Tonopah silver boom era
Nevada Railroad and Train Museums
- Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City
- Address: 601 Yucca Street, Boulder City NV 89005
- Phone: (702) 486-5952
- Features: Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs agency. Heritage railroad operating on Boulder City Branch Line, historic railroad route built to support Hoover Dam construction. Passenger excursion trains using historic railroad equipment on 7-mile 45-minute round trips. Part of seven Nevada State Museums system
- Nevada Northern Railway Museum
- Address: 1100 Avenue A, East Ely NV 89315
- Phone: (775) 289-2085
- Features: Historic railroad museum with old trains, engine shop tours, hands-on experiences, train ride experiences on vintage equipment, one of best-preserved short line railroads in North America, designated National Historic Landmark
- Nevada Southern Railway Museum
- Address: 600 Yucca Street, Boulder City NV 89005
- Phone: (702) 486-5933
- Features: Operated by Friends of Nevada Southern Railway, train rides through Nevada desert, historic railroad equipment
Ghost Town Museums and Historic Mining Towns
- Rhyolite Ghost Town
- Address: Near Beatty, NV 89003 (120 miles northwest of Las Vegas, eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park)
- Features: Nevada's most famous ghost town, founded 1905, grew to over 5,000 residents by 1907 with electric lights, water mains, telephones, newspapers, hospital, school, opera house, stock exchange. Largely abandoned by 1916. Tom Kelly Bottle House built 1903 from 50,000 glass bottles (filming location for two 1920s Paramount Pictures films). Historic train depot converted to casino/bar, later museum and curio shop (open into 1970s). Free admission, open daily for self-guided exploration
- Goldwell Open Air Museum
- Address: Near Rhyolite Ghost Town, Beatty NV 89003
- Features: Outdoor sculpture park near southern entrance to Rhyolite. Famous Last Supper installation - life-size biblical scene sculpture made from ghostly white plaster figures. Multiple outdoor art installations. Free admission
- Goldfield Historic Town and Museums
- Address: Goldfield, NV 89013 (60 miles south of Tonopah)
- Features: Once Nevada's largest city during gold rush, historic downtown buildings, Goldfield Hotel, Goldfield District mining history, old buildings to explore, deserted homes showcasing gold rush era
- Gold Point Museum
- Address: Gold Point, NV
- Features: Small fascinating museum showcasing artifacts from town's mining days, preserved ghost town buildings
- Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
- Address: Austin, NV 89310
- Phone: (775) 964-2440
- Features: Combination ghost town and fossil museum, preserved mining camp, ichthyosaur fossils (Nevada state fossil), guided tours of fossil house
- Belmont Ghost Town
- Address: Belmont, NV
- Features: Former Nye County seat, brick courthouse built 1876 still standing, mining era buildings, mill ruins
- Genoa Courthouse Museum
- Address: 2304 Main Street, Genoa NV 89411
- Phone: (775) 782-4325
- Features: Nevada's oldest town (founded 1851), historic courthouse museum, pioneer and Mormon settlement history
Boulder City and Hoover Dam Museums
- Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum
- Address: 1305 Arizona Street, Boulder City NV 89005
- Phone: (702) 294-1988
- Features: Hoover Dam construction history, Boulder City development, Depression-era exhibits, construction worker stories, engineering achievements, photographs and artifacts from dam building (1931-1936)
- Boulder City History and Art Center
- Features: Local history exhibits, rotating art exhibitions, Boulder City community history
Elko and Northeastern Nevada Museums
- Northeastern Nevada Museum
- Address: 1515 Idaho Street, Elko NV 89801
- Phone: (775) 738-3418
- Features: Mastodon fossils, large taxidermy installation, one of Nevada's largest antique gun collections, works by Ansel Adams, Basque culture exhibits, ranching and mining history, Native American artifacts, pioneer history
- California Trail Interpretive Center
- Address: 5 miles west of Elko on I-80
- Phone: (775) 738-1849
- Features: BLM interpretive center showcasing California Trail emigrant history, pioneer wagon journey exhibits, trails, interpretive programs
- Western Folklife Center
- Address: 501 Railroad Street, Elko NV 89801
- Phone: (775) 738-7508
- Features: Western culture preservation, cowboy poetry, ranching heritage, hosts annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Lake Tahoe and Washoe Valley Museums
- Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society
- Address: 5000 Highway 28, Incline Village NV 89451
- Phone: (775) 832-8750
- Features: Historic Lake Tahoe estate tours, George Whittell Jr. mansion, stone lodge, Card House, lighthouse, underground tunnel, preserved 1930s-1940s elegance, Lake Tahoe history
- Gatekeeper's Museum and Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum
- Address: 130 West Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City CA 96145 (near Nevada border)
- Phone: (530) 583-1762
- Features: Lake Tahoe history, Native American basket collection, pioneer artifacts
- Bowers Mansion
- Address: 4005 US Highway 395 North, Washoe Valley NV 89704
- Phone: (775) 849-1825
- Features: Historic 1864 mansion built with Comstock Lode silver wealth, period furnishings, guided tours, park grounds
Rural Nevada and Small Town Museums
- Lost City Museum of Archaeology
- Address: 721 South Moapa Valley Boulevard, Overton NV 89040
- Phone: (702) 397-2193
- Features: Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) artifacts from sites flooded by Lake Mead, pueblo reconstructions, prehistoric pottery, Nevada archaeology
- Churchill County Museum
- Address: 1050 South Maine Street, Fallon NV 89406
- Phone: (775) 423-3677
- Features: Churchill County history, Hidden Cave artifacts, pioneer history, agricultural heritage, military history
- Yerington Paiute Tribe Museum
- Address: 171 Campbell Lane, Yerington NV 89447
- Features: Paiute tribal history, cultural artifacts, Native American heritage exhibits
- Lyon County Museum
- Address: 215 South Main Street, Yerington NV 89447
- Phone: (775) 463-6576
- Features: Lyon County history, mining exhibits, ranching heritage, local artifacts
- Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park
- Address: 1450 Highway 88, Minden NV 89423
- Phone: (775) 783-9417
- Features: Historic ranch complex, Dangberg family history, Carson Valley settlement, tours by appointment
- Douglas County Historical Society Museum
- Address: 1477 US Highway 395 North, Gardnerville NV 89410
- Phone: (775) 782-2555
- Features: Douglas County history, Basque heritage, ranching exhibits, local artifacts
- White Pine Public Museum
- Address: 2000 Aultman Street, Ely NV 89301
- Phone: (775) 289-4710
- Features: White Pine County history, mining exhibits, railroad history, local artifacts
- Lincoln County Historical Museum
- Address: 69 Main Street, Pioche NV 89043
- Phone: (775) 962-5207
- Features: Pioche mining history, Lincoln County heritage, Wild West history, million dollar courthouse exhibits
- Mineral County Museum
- Address: 400 10th Street, Hawthorne NV 89415
- Phone: (775) 945-5142
- Features: Mineral County history, military ordnance history, mining exhibits, local heritage
- Pershing County Museum
- Address: 1440 Cornell Avenue, Lovelock NV 89419
- Phone: (775) 273-2405
- Features: Pershing County history, pioneer artifacts, mining heritage
- Humboldt Museum
- Address: 175 Museum Way, Winnemucca NV 89445
- Phone: (775) 623-2912
- Features: Humboldt County history, Basque culture, ranching heritage, mining exhibits, pioneer history, Native American artifacts
- Washoe County Sheriff's Office Museum
- Address: 911 Parr Boulevard, Reno NV 89512
- Features: Law enforcement history, vintage equipment, historical photographs
- Dayton Museum
- Address: 65 Shady Lane, Dayton NV 89403
- Features: Dayton history as Nevada's oldest settlement, mining heritage, schoolhouse museum
- Silver Peak Museum
- Features: Mining town history, lithium and silver mining exhibits, small town preservation
- Austin Historical Museum
- Address: Austin, NV 89310
- Features: Reese River mining district history, Pony Express station, pioneer history
- Eureka Sentinel Museum
- Address: 10 North Monroe Street, Eureka NV 89316
- Phone: (775) 237-5010
- Features: Historic newspaper office preserved as museum, printing equipment, Eureka mining history
- Battle Mountain Museum
- Features: Lander County mining history, local heritage exhibits
- McGill Drugstore Museum
- Address: McGill, NV
- Features: Historic drugstore preserved with original fixtures, White Pine County history
- Virgin Valley Heritage Museum
- Address: 380 West Mesquite Boulevard, Mesquite NV 89027
- Phone: (702) 346-5705
- Features: Listed on United States National Register of Historic Places, Mesquite area history, pioneer artifacts
Specialty and Unique Nevada Museums
- Great Basin National Park Visitor Centers and Museums
- Address: Baker, NV 89311
- Phone: (775) 234-7331
- Features: Free admission to visitor centers, exhibits on Great Basin ecology, Lehman Caves tours, bristlecone pines, dark sky programs, Nevada natural history
- Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center
- Address: Valley of Fire, NV
- Features: Ancient petroglyphs, geology exhibits, Ancestral Puebloan history, natural history of Nevada's oldest state park
- Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center
- Address: 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, Las Vegas NV 89161
- Phone: (702) 515-5350
- Features: Desert ecology exhibits, geology, natural history, Native American history
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Centers
- Features: Multiple visitor centers with exhibits on Lake Mead creation, Hoover Dam, desert ecology, recreation history
- Nevada Gaming Museum (Las Vegas)
- Features: Casino and gambling history, vintage slot machines, gaming artifacts, Las Vegas casino heritage
- Opal Mine and Museum
- Address: Near Virgin Valley
- Features: Nevada opal mining, gemstone exhibits, working mine tours
- Fort Churchill State Historic Park
- Address: 1000 Highway 95A, Silver Springs NV 89429
- Phone: (775) 577-2345
- Features: Civil War-era fort ruins, visitor center with exhibits on frontier military history, Pony Express, pioneer trails
Nevada Museum Associations and Resources
- Nevada Museums Association
- Website: nvmuseums.org
- Features: Professional organization supporting Nevada museums, museum directory, Nevada Bucket-List Trip for Railfans guide, museum resources and networking
- Nevada State Museums System
- Features: Seven Nevada State Museums operated by Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs including Nevada State Museum Carson City, Nevada State Museum Las Vegas, Nevada State Railroad Museum Carson City, Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City, and others. Membership provides free general admission to all seven museums
- Travel Nevada Museums Guide
Historical Societies, History Information and Resources
- Nevada Museums Association - Professional organization supporting museums across Nevada with directories, resources, and networking
- Travel Nevada Museums Directory - Official state tourism guide to Nevada's museums and cultural attractions
- History of Nevada - Wikipedia - Comprehensive overview of Nevada history from territorial days through statehood
- List of Museums in Nevada - Wikipedia - Detailed catalog of Nevada museums by region
- Nevada Historical Society - Nevada's oldest cultural institution (temporarily closed for renovations until August 2026)
- Nevada State Historic Preservation Office - Preserves and promotes Nevada's historic sites and archaeological resources
- Nevada Humanities - Supports cultural and historical education programs across Nevada
Nevada Museum Statistics and Facts
- Nevada has over 100 museums including 7 Nevada State Museums operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
- 27 museums and attractions in Nevada can be visited without admission charges
- 25 nature and natural history museums operate across the state
- Nevada has over 600 ghost towns - more than any other U.S. state - with many featuring museums or historic interpretive sites
- The National Atomic Testing Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution
- Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City was ranked #6 Best Train Museum in the United States by Travel + Leisure magazine
- The Nevada Museum of Art in Reno is the only accredited art museum in Nevada
- Nevada museums cover diverse topics including mining heritage, organized crime history, atomic testing, railroad history, gaming and casino history, Native American culture, automotive history, natural history, fine art, children's education, and pioneer settlement
Planning Your Nevada Museum Visits
Best Times to Visit: Nevada museums are open year-round, though some rural and ghost town museums may have seasonal hours or operate May-September only. Las Vegas and Reno museums maintain consistent daily schedules. Summer temperatures in southern Nevada can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit, making indoor museum visits ideal during afternoon heat.
Free Admission Days: Nevada Museum of Art offers free admission on Second Saturdays. The Discovery in Reno offers $5 admission Wednesdays after 4pm. Nevada State Museums offer free admission to children 17 and under. Many university museums offer free admission to students with ID.
Museum Passes: Nevada State Museums membership provides free general admission to all seven Nevada State Museums including Carson City, Las Vegas, Boulder City railroad museums and others. Individual museum memberships often include reciprocal admission benefits at other institutions.
Combination Tickets: Some Las Vegas attractions offer combination tickets for multiple museums. The Mob Museum offers online discounts for specific time slots. Springs Preserve membership includes Nevada State Museum Las Vegas admission.
Ghost Town Visits: Many ghost towns like Rhyolite and Goldfield offer free 24-hour access for self-guided exploration. Bring water, sun protection, and be aware that buildings may be structurally unsound. Respect private property and take only photographs.
Accessibility: Major museums in Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson City are ADA accessible. Contact smaller rural museums in advance to inquire about accessibility accommodations.
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