Located on the Las Vegas Springs Preserve campus, you can visit the Nevada State Museum where you will find 20,000 square-feet of permanent space.  The wide variety of artifacts include paleontological fossils, an ichthyosaur, a Columbian Mammoth and interactive displays where you will see and hear stories told by Nevada’s pioneers.

In the main museum, you will find “Permanent Exhibits” featuring all types of animals, gun displays, Indian heritage, an old town section and fabulous old photos.  Across the hall, there is the “Changing Exhibits” where you may see Liberace memorabilia, plus the spectacular “showgirl wall” and many larger-than-life personalities who helped define Nevada.

In the adjacent building, the Origen Museum takes you through the beginnings of how the desert land developed over centuries.  There is a fantastic gift shop with informational books and souvenirs.

Before or after touring the museums, you can wander through 180 trails and gardens of the Springs Preserve.  There’s the Desert Living Center and Botanical Garden plus many displays along the way. 

The museum is open Monday through Thursdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Nevada residents:  Adults – $9.95 & Children (3-17) $4.95

Non-residents: Adults – $18.95 and Children (3-17) $10.95

One admission covers all the areas.

Be sure to bring water, especially during warmer weather.

The museum is spacious and well laid out.  There’s so much to take in, you can easily spend a half-day exploring Las Vegas and Nevada’s history.