The Top 12 Museums to Visit in Nevada

The Burlesque Hall of Fame celebrates over a century of the art of the tease. The museum originated at a bar in Death Valley, where performers would hang old costumes and photographs, but eventually relocated to Sin City, where some would say it always belonged. The BHoF features costumes, props, photos, posters and more, from Sally Rand’s fans to Dita Von Teese’s martini glass bathtub and every pair of Gypsy Rose Lee pumps in between.

The Discovery Children’s Museum has plenty to keep kids of all ages amused, whether toddlers or pre-teens. Located adjacent to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the 58,000-square ft facility contains interactive areas, changing displays and a number of events. Kids can try out future careers in an interactive mini-town, walk though a giant ear or sing karaoke in the “Tokyo” segment of the Japan exhibit.

The Hollywood Car Museum is a delight for for auto enthusiasts and movie aficionados. Located in an industrial area off the Strip, much of it is actually the personal collection of one very obsessed—and very wealthy—man. The main area is a massive collection, including the Delorean from Back to the Future, James Bond’s underwater Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me and a “Flintstones” car. Another area is the Liberace Garage, which displays selected vehicles and memorabilia belonging to “Mr. Showmanship.”

The Lost City Museum examines the Native American history of Southern Nevada. Located near Boulder City, it exhibits artifacts from nearby archaeological sites. The museum contains ruins, as well as a set of reconstructed Anasazi pueblos. The museum also hosts lectures and workshops of special interest to fans of history and archaeology.

The Mob Museum—formally known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement—examines the past and present of organized crime from both sides. The three-story museum is located in a former court building that was once the post office and courthouse that hosted a series of the Kefauver Hearings, which investigated the mob during the 1950s. The Mob Museum stresses interactivity—firing a Tommy Gun, crawling into a boot to listen to FBI wiretaps, conducting a mock autopsy and more. Displays offer information on everything from Prohibition to the Yakuza and special exhibits are often added.

A part of Nevada history that was celebrated at the time but isn’t much recalled today is the legacy of the atomic era. However, it is examined at the National Atomic Testing Museum. The museum operates under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and tells the story of America’s nuclear weapons testing program at the Nevada Test Site in both its scientific and historical contexts. Exhibits include the creation of the atomic bomb, the effects of radiation and a simulated atomic bomb blast.

The National Automobile Museum is a mecca for fans of automotive history and design. On display you’ll find a multitude of machines, including classic cars, sports cars and race cars, with exhibits on everything from the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race to Moon rovers. Highlights of the collection include vehicles that belonged to Lana Turner, Sammy Davis Jr. and JFK.

Since opening in 1996, the Neon Museum has become one of Las Vegas’ most popular attractions. Located near downtown, it’s a collection of signage from many of the city’s properties, from legendary casinos like the Stardust and Riviera to small businesses like wedding chapels and dry cleaners. Some signs have been restored and re-lit, others lie dormant but are still beautiful specimens of design and history. The museum’s “Brilliant!” program used projections to re-animate dormant signs with a musical soundtrack.

The Nevada Museum of Art features works in a variety of formats by both international artists and those from the Nevada community. The museum frequently hosts visiting exhibits and also boasts a permanent collection from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The NMA’s Center for Art + Environment explores the practice and study of how people interact creatively with their environments; the museum also collaborated on the Seven Magic Mountains installation in Southern Nevada.

Sometimes, the museum itself is part of the exhibit, as is the case with the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. Located in the former Carson City Mint, its collection includes mummies and mammoths, Navajo pottery and French posters. The museum also houses the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Research Center and hosts a variety of lectures, activities and kids’ programs.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum celebrates the state’s historic railroads—and even gives guests an opportunity to experience one themselves. The Nevada Southern Railway travels along a track once used to carry supplies to the Boulder Dam and lets riders have the old-time big locomotive experience with a side of scenery. The museum also has a number of grounded train cars for visitors to explore, as well as a collection of model trains.

Zak Bagans has collected many objects during his years as the host of Ghost Adventures. They’ve been collected in a historic home that is now the Haunted Museum, each room set up in its own creepy vignette. Items on display include Ed Gein’s clown paintings, cursed dolls, Dr. Kevorkian’s van, mummies, skulls, coffins and more. Guided tours mean you get the whole down n’ dark story on every room.