Clark County Heritage Museum

Museum Entrance

While in Las Vegas recently, I took a morning off to visit the Clark County Heritage Museum in Henderson, which is adjacent to Las Vegas and to the east of the Las Vegas Strip (‘way east). It’s a bit of a drive, but definitely worth it if you’re into history.

There are three parts to the museum: The Anna Roberts Parks Exhibit Hall and Heritage Gallery is indoors; the Mohave Gardens Outdoor Classroom, Heritage Street of Historic Homes, and Ghost Town are outdoors.

For a mere $2, adults can browse to their heart’s content. Seniors and kids can get in for a mere $1.

Extinct Dire Wolf

Southern Nevada Home Interior

The Exhibit Hall is the place to start. After you give the host your dollar bills, you can wander around inside on a historic journey from the Ice Age to the fabulous Las Vegas Age of Entertainment – extinct animals, Paiute Indians, pioneers and gambling.

Heritage Street of Historic Homes

Goumond House, Las Vegas, 1931

Interior, Giles-Barcus House, Goldfiend, 1924

Interior, Giles-Barcus House, Goldfiend, 1924

The Heritage Street is a reconstructed neighborhood of actual homes from the 1910s to the 1970s that were brought over in their entirety. If a particular home strikes you as interesting as you wander the street, you can enter it and hear/see a little presentation of what it was like to live in that era.

Boulder City Depot

In the Ghost Town, you will walk among derelict trucks and cars, broken-down farm equipment and the actual Boulder City train depot with its collection of railroad cars.

All in all, it’s an interesting peek at life in the desert Southwest over the ages.

Clark County Heritage Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson 89002: open 9 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. daily. From Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 south to Interstate 215 east. Get in the right-hand lane to turn right (south) on Interstate 515/93. Exit left (east) at Horizon Drive and turn right (south) on Boulder Highway. The museum parking lot is on the left, so be alert.