Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Las Vegas Natural History Museum highlights

The museum features a variety of interactive and engaging exhibits. One of their most popular exhibits, Treasures of Egypt, explores how archaeologists in the early 20th century discovered breathtaking Egyptian artifacts, such as Tutankhamun’s tomb. Visitors can walk through a replica of the entrance to the pharaoh's tomb and see other realistic replicas of artifacts, such as the Golden Throne, chariots, the Golden Shrine, and the outer sarcophagus. Visitors can also “scan” a mummy with cutting-edge technology that allows guests to see medical imaging from a real mummy, just like an Egyptologist.

If you or your kiddos are into dinosaurs, don't miss the Engelstad Family Prehistoric Life Gallery, which features a massive Tyrannosaurus rex that can move its head and let out a fearsome roar. The museum has other replicas of dinosaurs, such as a triceratops, an ankylosaur, a raptor, an ichthyosaur, and a giant marine reptile. Make sure to check out the Dinosaur Mummy Cretaceous Science Investigation exhibit to discover the crime-scene techniques that modern paleontologists use to study dinosaurs.

Other exhibits at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum

If you’re interested in marine life, don’t worry—the Las Vegas History Museum has that covered, too. The marine-life exhibit is filled with special effects to create an ocean experience with live sharks, stingrays, and other unique deep-sea life in jewel tanks. Life-size recreations of other sharks and large fish hang from the ceilings and walls for an immersive experience. For more animal information, check out the Gary & Matthew Primm African Savanna Gallery, which captures the breathtaking landscape of the savanna in southern Africa, with features such as a watering hole surrounded by animals and action dioramas.

Want to see even more animals? The International Wildlife Gallery is centered around mammal families and their adaptations, while the E. L. Wiegand Foundation Wild Nevada Gallery recreates the Mojave Desert, complete with plants, animals, and more in a multi-sensory gallery.

Good to know when visiting Las Vegas Natural History Museum

If you’d like a souvenir to remember your visit, check out the museum’s gift shop for shirts, hats, mugs, and other gifts. Also, if you’d like a private tour or to book a private event, the museum’s site has a variety of options to look into. Make sure to take a peek at the museum’s calendar for special events and rotating exhibits.

For other nearby educational activities, check out The Neon Museum, which preserves and collects iconic Las Vegas neon signs from the Golden Age of Vegas. You'll also like The Mob Museum, which chronicles the history of organized crime in America and its impact on society. If you want to make a day of it all, grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby restaurants, such as Pizza Rock, Le Thai, Eureka! Discover American Craft, or Nacho Daddy Downtown.