Nevada

5 Fun, Informative, and Truly Unique Museums in Nevada

Vegas and Reno offer exhibits you won't find anywhere else

The Western part of the United States is home to some of the most popular travel destinations and states that are filled with natural wonders, amazing cities, and much more. In addition to California, Washington, and Oregon, the region is also home to beautiful Nevada which is perhaps most well-known for the city of Las Vegas. In addition to the tourist destination, Nevada is also home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders including Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the Mojave Desert.

The Mojave Desert / Nick Fox / Bigstock

Travelers who spend time in Nevada can enjoy all of these natural wonders in addition to amazing nightlife, culture, entertainment, dining, history, and so much more. The state is home to some amazing museums that bring different interests, histories, art, and culture to life and are each unique in their own ways. From modern art and the mob to Hollywood automobiles and history, there are plenty of amazing museums that should not be missed. Here are five museums in Nevada that every visitor to the state should add to their list!

Hollywood Cars Museum / Facebook

Hollywood Cars Museum

Las Vegas is well-known for its plethora of casinos, world-class entertainment, dining, shopping, and more, but it is also home to a wonderful museum that celebrates the history of automobiles in film. The Hollywood Cars Museum came about as a collaboration between Hot Rod City Las Vegas and Michael Dezer, owner of one of the largest vehicle collections in the world.

Hollywood Cars Museum / hollywoodcarsmuseum.com/

The collaboration resulted in a museum space of over thirty thousand square feet that has continued to grow and flourish over the years to house automobiles that have been featured in over one hundred films, television shows, and more. Travelers who visit the Hollywood Cars Museum can spot beloved vehicles from films such as The Spy Who Loved Me, Herbie the Love Bug, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Batman Returns. This unique combination of some of the most recognizable automobile from Hollywood is absolutely worth a visit on any trip to Las Vegas.



The Mob Museum / Facebook

The Mob Museum

Also found in the heart of downtown Las Vegas is a museum that brings the history of one of the seediest and interesting groups in history to life. The Mob Museum is also referred to as the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement and came about as the result of state and federal grants that were supported by a series of teams that created the idea of this nonprofit location.

Mob Museum / Facebook

Officially accredited in 2017, The Mob Museum brings the history of organized crime to life through different exhibits and interactive elements and also delves into the interactions between the mob and law enforcement. Visitors to the location can enjoy walking through exhibits including the Birth of the Mob, Prohibition, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall, The Feds Fight Back, Web of Deceit, Mob’s Greatest Hits, 100 Years of Made Men, Crime Lab Experience, and more. In addition to the amazing exhibits, guests who are twenty-one years of age or older can head to the lower level of The Mob Museum to check out the Speakeasy which brings the age of Prohibition to life and serves up delicious cocktails. With interactive ways to learn about one of the most fascinating areas of crime, The Mob Museum is a must do while in Las Vegas.

National Atomic Testing Museum / nationalatomictestingmuseum.org

National Atomic Testing Museum

In addition to Las Vegas and the museums and entertainment found there, Nevada is also home to a long history of nuclear weapons testing thanks to its vast desert regions. The National Atomic Testing Museum aims to share the history and story of America’s nuclear testing program and how it impacted the global community and politics. Spanning over seventy years of history, the museum features over thirty-five hundred artifacts that include items such as photos, videos, reports, data, cameras, instruments, and more.

National Atomic Testing Museum / Facebook

Visitors to the National Atomic Testing Museum are sure to be amazed at the amount of history and information presented in the space as the exhibits bring life to an important factor in our nation’s history. This is certainly a museum that should be enjoyed while spending time in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Neon Museum / Facebook

Neon Museum

When travelers think of Las Vegas, one of the first images that pop into their heads is the bright lights of the strip. These lights are all made of neon and the city is appropriately home to a museum that honors the history and artistry of neon lights. The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 as a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve and display iconic neon signs from Las Vegas for visitors from all over the world to enjoy.

The Neon Museum / Facebook

Visitors to the museum can opt to enjoy either a self-guided tour or an hour-long guided tour that brings them first through the Visitor’s Center which is located in the lobby of the La Concha Motel. After that, guests move on to the Neon Boneyard where countless neon signs from the 1930s through present day can be found on display. With plenty of amazing photo opportunities and the chance to see some of the most iconic and memorable neon lights of Las Vegas up close, the Neon Museum is a must do while spending time in Las Vegas.



Nevada Museum of Art / Facebook

Nevada Museum of Art

Reno, Nevada is also a popular city in the state and is home to an amazing museum that focuses on bringing art and culture to the community. The Nevada Museum of Art was founded in 1931 by James Church and has continued to grow in size and collection over the years resulting in the impressive experience that can be enjoyed today. Visitors who stop at the location can check out the four permanent collections which consist of Altered Landscape Photography, Art of the Greater West, Contemporary Art, and the Work Ethic.

Nevada Museum of Art / Facebook

In addition, there are also special exhibits that occasionally change in the museum and current experiences include In Conversation: Alma Allen and J.B. Blunk, Andrea Zittel: Wallsprawl, The Inside World: Contemporary Aboriginal Australian Poles from the Debra and Dennis Scholl Collection, Trevor Paglen: Orbital Reflector, and History of Transportation: A Mural Study by Helen Lundeberg. The Nevada Museum of Art is an absolutely amazing experience to enjoy in Reno that should be on the list of every traveler to the area!

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