Unspecified/General

Just north of the famous Strip in the Cultural Corridor of downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum is the principal natural-history institution of southern Nevada. The museum was founded in 1991 by the marine biologist Walter Naumann together with a small group of local scientists and educators who saw the need for a dedicated natural-history facility in a rapidly growing region. The museum occupies a 36,000-square-foot purpose-built facility, with several major galleries and an enviable collection developed across more than three decades of operation. The museum's most celebrated permanent gallery is the Engelstad Foundation African Savannah, recreating the African plains complete with full-mount specimens of lions, hyenas, antelopes, zebras and other wildlife arranged in dramatic dioramas. The companion Wild Nevada Gallery shifts the focus to local fauna, with displays of desert tortoises, snakes, lizards and the surprisingly diverse range of mammals and birds that thrive in the Mojave Desert. A particular highlight is the Marine Life Gallery, which features several large saltwater aquariums showcasing tropical reef fish, sharks, eels and the colourful invertebrates of warm-water coral environments. A separate freshwater gallery focuses on the rivers and lakes of the American Southwest. The Treasures of Egypt Gallery offers a small but well-curated introduction to ancient Egyptian culture, with authentic artefacts including a nearly four-thousand-year-old mummy on loan from a collaborative institution, a recreated tomb chamber and an interactive sand-table where children can excavate replica artefacts. A dedicated Young Scientist Center caters to younger visitors with hands-on stations covering palaeontology, geology and ecology. Throughout the year the museum hosts changing special exhibitions, summer science camps and family event days that round out the programme. Modestly priced and easily combined with neighbouring downtown attractions including the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum, the museum offers a refreshingly educational alternative to the Strip's entertainment-heavy offerings.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 900 North Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV, United States

Telephone: 702-384-3466

Website: lvnhm.org

Opening Date: 01/01/1991