The Nevada State Museum, located at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Las Vegas Springs Preserve consists of dedicated to nature walks and displays and is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Preserve is located approximately three miles west of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada...

, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

 is one of 6 Nevada State Museums operated by the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs

Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs

The Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada.The Department of Cultural Affairs headquarters is located in Carson City, Nevada.- Division of Museums and History :...

. It is also known as Nevada State Museum & Historical Society. The museum houses items from the development of Las Vegas as well as the natural history

Natural history

Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...

 of the area.

Accreditation

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is accredited by the American Association of Museums

American Association of Museums

The American Association of Museums is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its founding in 1906, helping develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community...

.

First location

The 1982 museum was located in Lorenzi Park but was moved into a new building in the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, where it opened on October 28, 2011.

Second location

The museum opened on October 29, in a building completed in 2009 Las Vegas Springs Preserve. The building remained unused for two years as a result of state budget constraints from the 2000 economic slowdown. The new building offeres twice the exhibit space that was available in the old building.