Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Dedicated to the education of children, adults, and families of the community in the natural sciences-both past and present, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum is a non-profit organization located just north of the Las Vegas Strip on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. North and Washington Blvd. A visit to this museum provides children and adults with an appreciation of the wildlife, cultures, and ecosystems of our world.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum's hours of operation are - daily 9a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on New Year's Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Admission fees to the museum are $10 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, Military and Students, Children under 2 are free. "Museums On Us", a recognized program by Bank of America, provides free admission to each individual with a Bank of America ATM, credit, or check card on every first full weekend of each month.

Several unforgettable exhibits are available for visits are:

  1. Treasure of Egypt - using state-of-art technology, parents and kids can "scan" a mummy replica, viewing actual medical images taken from a real mummy.
  2. Englestad Family Prehistoric Life Gallery - what child will ever stopping talking about a 35 foot long T-Rex lowering its head and roaring at them?
  3. International Wildlife Gallery - Families can view dozens of big cats, bears, and many, many other animals mounted in their natural habitat.
  4. Marine Life Gallery - parents and kids will be amazed at the 3,000 gallon salt water tank filled with live sharks and stingrays.
  5. Young Scientist Gallery - microscopes and computers bring science to life, allowing children to explore below the sea and dig up fossils.
  6. African Galleries - one of its kind in Nevada, this gallery provides better understanding of prehistoric primates such as Australopithecus and Homo Erectus recreations.
  7. Wild Nevada Gallery - engages visitors with interactive exhibits of the beautiful Mojave Desert.
  8. Geology Gallery - explore geological natural resources.

The museum provides a room dedicated to preschoolers, to learn at their level. They can look in microscopes, dig for faux fossils, and pop their heads into a fish tank from below.

A visit to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum will ignite your child's interest in travel, other cultures, and the history of our world. It is an excellent way to balance out a family's vacation of fun and education.

Other family activities nearby include the Lied Discovery Children's Museum located just across the street. Located close by, families can also enjoy a tour of the Neon Museums' "Boneyard" of retired historic neon signage.