Learn about the unique history of the Silver State from prehistoric times right up to the recent past at Nevada’s oldest museum.
Comprehensively covering 10,000 years of the Silver State’s fascinating history is no mean feat, but the Nevada Historical Society has been doing just that with ease since 1904. Situated on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, this stimulating museum uses a range of artefacts, artworks, paintings, pottery and costumes to chart the history of Nevada’s ranching, mining and gaming industries. This is an utterly engrossing museum and should definitely be on any Reno visitor's historical and cultural itinerary.The museum’s intriguing collection comprises over 15,000 artefacts ranging from prehistoric times right up to the recent past. The state’s gaming heritage is represented by a number of quirky objects including cheating devices used by gamblers and early slot machines. If you’re visiting with the little ones, they will get a kick out of meeting the museum’s conjoined calves – appropriately named Six Legged Dan and Two Headed Slim.As well as a number of rotating temporary exhibitions covering fine art and film, the museum is home to two excellent permanent exhibitions that give a coherent overview of the unique history of the state. The first, “Nevada: Prisms and Perspectives”, knits five individual themes around a central narrative to tell the common story of the formation of the state: "Living on the Land” tells the story of the original native settlers, "Riches from the Earth” explores the phenomenon of prospecting, "Passing Through" examines the state’s unique migratory patterns, "Neon Nights" looks at the proliferation of clubs and the rise of the quickie divorce, while "Federal Presence" outlines federal policies and their effect upon the state. The second exhibition, “Biggest Little City in the World”, uses native artefacts and oral testimonies to paint a picture of Reno’s history.Wrap up your visit in the museum’s library which contains a wealth of printed material including 19th-century manuscripts and over 300,000 photographs from 1862 to the present day.Finally, don’t forget to stop by the museum shop before you leave. With a fine range of local art, jewellery and books about Nevada, you can easily pick up a unique Silver State souvenir to take home with you.
