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Cultural Scene and Heard: Days of Desert Past – The Nevada State Museum
By Heather Turk
If there’s one thing Nevadans take great pride in, it’s the rich history and cultural heritage of their home state, and nothing reflects that legacy better than the Las Vegas branch of the Nevada State Museum, now housed in its new $51.5 million facility at the Springs Preserve. Although the 70,000 square foot building was completed in 2009, the museum remained at its original, smaller Lorenzi Park location for several years because of state budget issues. The move to the Springs Preserve was worth the wait, however, as the new site continues to educate and enrich local residents about the incredibly diverse and remarkable past of the Silver State.
Living History
With nearly 14,000 square feet of space dedicated to Nevada history, from pioneers to flora and fauna and beyond, the museum hosts an impressive collection that’s sure to thrill young and old minds alike. Permanent exhibits detail everything from Native American cultures and local geology to atomic testing and the Hoover Dam, but the museum also hosts ever changing works of beautiful creative expression. Opening November 15th will be the costume exhibition “Vegas Style: Spectacle and Spectator,” which explores the past, present and future of fashion in Sin City. The show will be researched and curated by students from UNLV’s public history program.
Upon entering the building, guests are greeted by a beautiful resin model of an ancient bristlecone pine tree, Nevada’s state tree, a mock up so realistic that you’ll swear it’s the genuine article. A walk through the permanent exhibit gallery reveals something you won’t find in any old museum: a prehistoric Columbian mammoth skeleton with scars on its bones from predators both human and animal. Beside this awe inspiring giant sits one of the museum’s new state of the art exhibits: a large screen, multi-projection video about Nevada’s nocturnal wildlife titled From Dusk to Dawn, which incorporates real taxidermy specimens for a lifelike experience.
The Mother Lode
Mining has always played a key role in Nevada’s history, and you can learn more about it at yet another high tech experience called the Comstock Lode & Mining Exhibit. Three holographic projections known as “Pepper’s ghosts” detail life on the Comstock Lode, the site of the first major U.S. discovery of silver ore, located under what is now Virginia City. Each virtual actor spins a compelling yarn of a different individual whose life was impacted by the 1859 discovery: Eilley Bowers, who was briefly one of the nation’s wealthiest women before “the ore ran out;” Henry Comstock, an early prospector for whom the lode was named; and a miner from Cornwall, England, who describes the harsh working conditions for which he was rewarded “$4 a day.”
Neon Memories
Of course, no Las Vegas museum would be complete without a section devoted to the glitz and glamour of the Strip. The “Viva Las Vegas” exhibit includes a dazzling Costume Wall that showcases headdresses, bikini bottoms and other pieces worn by dancers from various shows, offering a nostalgic trip back to the days when the Rat Pack helped define Vegas entertainment. The costumes light up with a musical fanfare that some visitors may find a bit kitschy, but the eye catching spectacle happens to be a favorite among most museum patrons. It may not carry the same momentous weight of a mammoth skeleton, but it’s still a touchstone of local culture.
Once you’ve finished exploring the exhibits, browse the gift shop or check out the research library full of old newspapers, books and manuscripts, including personal papers of famous Nevada figures such as Helen J. Stewart. With so much to offer in this new venue, it’s no surprise the museum has seen a tremendous upsurge in attendance. Those numbers are sure to increase as more local residents take advantage of this hometown historical treasure.
For more information, visit www.springspreserve.org/attractions/nsm.html.
