Courtesy Nevada Commission on Tourism
LAS VEGAS — The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, which opened in its new location at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Oct. 28, features exhibits showcasing Nevada’s history, flora and fauna, and geology.
The 70,000-square-foot facility is double the size of the former museum at Lorenzi Park and includes a 13,000-square-foot permanent gallery that interprets the history of Nevada dating back millions of years to the present.
Among the new exhibits is a large-screen, multi-projection video that details the behavior of Nevada wildlife from dusk to dawn; small specimens of dinosaur fossils documented in Nevada; and an interactive display about the Comstock, the rich vein of silver discovered under what is now Virginia City in the late 1850s.
The museum also tells the story of Nevada’s American Indians, pioneers, early settlers, miners, railroaders, ranchers and entrepreneurs. The Hoover Dam, the atomic era and the rise of Las Vegas as a top resort destination also are covered.
“With this larger museum, we’re able to create visitor experiences that focus on the entire state — something we weren’t always able to offer in our former, smaller space,” said Peter Barton, administrator for the Nevada Division of Museums and History. “Before, we focused on southern Nevada, but now we’re trying to interpret the whole state.”
The $51.5 million Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is at the Springs Preserve, a 180-acre cultural institution with museums, exhibits, gardens, interpretive trails, event space and more.
