Nevada State Museum Las Vegas Family History Discovery Saturdays

About this adventure

Located on the grounds of the Springs Preserve in a modern 70,000-square-foot facility, the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas preserves and interprets the rich natural, geological, and cultural heritage of the Silver State. During the winter season, the museum hosts 'Family Discovery Saturdays,' offering hands-on archaeology labs, fossil identification workshops, and storytelling sessions. Visitors encounter an awe-inspiring full-scale replica of the mammoth that once roamed the Las Vegas Wash, alongside the fossilized skeleton of an Ichthyosaur—a colossal 50-foot prehistoric marine reptile that serves as Nevada's official state fossil. Galleries guide families through the lifeways of Southern Paiute and Mojave peoples, historic mining boomtowns, early railroad expansion, the dramatic construction of Hoover Dam, and the mid-century entertainment era. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Completely ADA-accessible with level flooring, wide gallery aisles, automatic entrance doors, and elevator access to the research library and lower exhibition halls. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Quiet cushioned seating areas situated in the rotunda and paleontology gallery; immaculate, touch-free family restrooms equipped with sanitary changing stations. • Age Suitability: Engaging for curious learners of all ages, with particularly high appeal for kindergarteners through middle schoolers studying Nevada history. • Sensory Tips: Museum galleries feature gentle acoustic levels, soft ambient lighting, and interactive touch screens; sensory bags available upon request at visitor services.