Museum Madness in Nevada

It’s true, Nevada is a land of many things full of diversity you’d never see coming. And if there’s one thing we’re not lacking around here, it’s HISTORY, super impressive history at that.

As the nation’s seventh largest state, we certainly have a lot of ground to cover, with rich history oozing out of all 16 counties. Check out these 8 relics you didn’t know you could find at these Nevada museums.

All the Neon
The Neon Museum calls their BONE YARD to appreciate some quintessential Vegas you might otherwise, overlook. Relish some crazy-amazing photo ops next to iconic beauties and be sure to grab on to this pro tip: take the night tour.

Seriously Cool Adobe Huts
The Lost City Museum definitely attests to that with its replicated adobe huts, designed to mimic those inhabited by Ancestral Pueblo that called the Moapa Valley home over 800 years ago. The original adobe huts community established by the Ancestral Pueblo was originally down the road from modern day Overton.

Historic Fourth Ward School
The Fourth Ward School is one of the only lasting examples of a Victorian-era school from the 1800s, and is right in the heart of Virginia City. Once referred to as “The finest structure of the kind in Nevada” by Mark Twain himself, you can imagine that the interesting relics to savor are far too great to call out individually.

Central Nevada Museum
The Central Nevada Museum has more than one thing to brag about, that much is certain, but there is one glaring section that’s difficult to ignore. None other than some truly extraordinary remains from the Tonopah Air Base, which was headquartered not far from downtown Tonopah for eight short years in the 1940s.

The base was set up as a World War II training base with a freshly acquired 3,000,000 acres of land, and by the time it was occupied, was outfitted with runways, barracks, mess halls and a hospital, among othter facilities.

A Complete Press Room from the 1800s
Ever wonder where the expression “Mind your P’s and Q’s” comes from? Home of the Eureka Sentinel Newspaper, this same location houses a modern-day museum and is a damned good place to start. The Eureka Sentinel is still in production today, but first sprung to life in this wildly historic building and operated at this location from 1879-1960.

The Very First Levi's
Levi Strauss denim jeans were invented right in the heart of the Biggest Little City. Jacob Davis, a Latvian Jewish immigrant, set up shop in Reno as a tailor and came up with the idea to use copper rivets to reinforce points of strain on trousers.

Night at the Museum
If wondering what it would be like to actually spend a night at a museum surrounded by 100-plus-year-old history has been getting your goat, search no further. Marvel at living history at not only one museum, but two at the East Ely Depot Museum and Nevada Northern Railway in Ely. The depot, which was constructed in 1905, was integral in serving nearby copper mining and still, mystifyingly enough runs today.

The Goldwell Ghosts
This place is not your typical museum by traditional standards, but after all, Nevada tends to have its own way of doing things. The other-worldly, always enchanting Mojave Desert is one of the most unique places out there, so it’s safe to say that Albert Szukalski hit the nail on the head when braining the idea to have a permanent outdoor museum. So it is in fact is true what they say: the Goldwell Open Air Museum is one of the most unique places to experience art installations.