Clark County Heritage Museum

Located on the edge of the valley, the Clark County Heritage Museum provides hours of fun while teaching visitors about the rich and colorful history of Las Vegas and its surrounding communities.

The tour begins in Anna Roberts Parks Exhibit Hall with a timeline of Southern Nevada from prehistoric times through the 20th century. Once completely submerged under water, Southern Nevada was at one time a relatively lush environment and attracted animals such as mammoth, sloth and camels.

Humans inhabited the region for at least 12,000 years, including the Indian tribes of the Anasazi, Paiute, Chemehuevi and Mojave. A diorama of an Anasazi dwelling and a Paiute camp offer visitors a glimpse into how early residents of the area lived. There are also several display cases full of authentic knives, toys, pottery, baskets and jewelry that were left behind by the various communities that once called the desert region "home."

The timeline demonstrates how, in the early 1800s, explorers, settlers, trappers and missionaries began to make their way to the Nevada desert, building ranches and farms. Artifacts on display in this portion of the museum include a pair of sheep shears and a flintlock musket. An informative exhibit on mining towns chronicles the colorful past of towns like Searchlight, Potosi and Goodsprings.

Throughout the museum there are interactive displays allowing museum guests to touch and hold various items - a branding iron, butter mold, chamber pot, fossils and much more.

Another exhibit traces the unique history of gaming in Las Vegas, giving visitors an idea of how the once desolate region has become the entertainment mecca it is known as today. Among the items on display are an 1898 Dewy slot machine (made primarily of wood), a roulette wheel, poker table and a modern video poker machine. But nothing speaks as loudly to the phenomenal growth Vegas has seen in the last century as the old black and white photos hanging from the walls depicting a much smaller and less populated downtown Las Vegas.

The final area of the exhibit hall, "The Heritage Gallery," is dedicated to rotating collections. Currently on display is "African-American Portraits, 1912-1925." The collection of photographs taken by John Johnson is comprised of digital prints taken from the original negatives. The images depict the vibrant family life and camaraderie in one small African-American community.

Outside the exhibit hall, there is even more to see. The Mojave Desert Outdoor Classroom is filled with indigenous plants along winding paths. All are marked to help visitors determine which are which. Also nearby is a Model 0-6-0 Steam Switch Engine, built in 1918 by Union Pacific Works and once used for passenger and freight trains. A performance area provides a venue for the many cultural events held at the museum.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the Clark County Heritage Museum is "Heritage Street," a small tree-lined street is flanked on either side by eight historic structures, relocated from all across Southern Nevada and restored to their original grandeur. Among the buildings are the Beckley House (Las Vegas, 1912), the Babcock/Wilcox House (Boulder City, 1933) and the Giles/Barcus House (Goldmine, 1905).

Other points of interest at the museum include the 1931 Boulder City train depot and a ghost town complete with a blacksmith, jail and general store.

Conveniently located in the exhibit center near the museum property exit is the gift shop. It may appear small, but the shop offers a large array of souvenirs to meet any income. Authentic Hopi kachina dolls, Navajo jewelry, stuffed animals, books, cards and hand-woven rugs are just a few of the purchases to be made.

-- Review by Noelani Jones