Coming up this year at the Clark County Museum

Learning about history using the physical, tangible existence of historic buildings and sites is invaluable to children. We are lucky to have quite a few interesting museums and historical sites here in the general Las Vegas and Nevada area. One of the most fascinating is the Clark County Museum, situated at 1830 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, and run by Clark County Parks and Rec. This is a 30-acre site that features a modern exhibit hall with a timeline exhibit about southern Nevada from pre-historic to modern times and a collection of restored historic buildings that depict daily life from different decades in Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, and Goldfield. You can walk through a "Crummy" (caboose) at the Boulder City depot, or visit a "real" ghost town at the Ghost Town and Mining Trail. Or perhaps you would prefer to visit a Pueblo and see how the "old ones" lived?

As the Museum website, states, the Anna Robert Parks Exhibit Hall "takes the museum visitors through a historical journey from the Ice Age to Age of Entertainment.  The timeline chronicles the history and culture of the ancient Pueblo and more recent Paiute, the first Anglo pioneers and their daily lives, early town-sites and land auction camps, mining technology and the gaming and entertainment heritage of Las Vegas.  The Heritage Gallery changing exhibits feature art and artifacts in their historical context.  Heritage Street homes offer doorways into past decades, from the 1910s to the 1970s.  The Boulder City depot and collection of railroad cars recall the railroad heritage of southern Nevada, while the arrested decay along the Ghost Town and Mining Trail offers a perspective on life in the hot and arid Southwest environment."

There are several events coming up in 2012, including:

1. Orlando Montenegro “Transfiguration Phase” 

   January 27- March 23

   Reception: Friday, January 27 5:30-7:30 PM  

   "Orlando Montenegro’s series of mixed media paintings and drawings explore the body’s relationship to its environment and to the landscape through abstraction."

2. Michael Monson and Tony Flanagan "To the Neon Gods They Made" 

   Winchester Cultural Center - 3130 McLeod Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89121 - Map
   November 29 – January 20, 2012 
   Artist Reception: Wednesday, December 7 5:30- 7:30 PM

   "Artists Michael Monson and Tony Flanagan present photographs of stalled or abandoned construction projects in Las Vegas, from the Strip to the suburbs. "Buildings in various stages of construction are a common sight in Las Vegas. They have always represented the promise that soon there will be a new glittering peak on its ever-sprawling skyline. However, for many of the construction projects currently underway in Las Vegas, there are no grand openings planned in the foreseeable future, because their debuts were all scheduled to take place in the past," Monson observed, the artists documenting several structures in 2010."

3. Mark Brandvik “Green Felt Jungle Gym” 

   January 30– March 23

   Reception:  First Friday, February 3, 6-8 PM 
   Artist’s talk: Wednesday, February 8, 6:30 PM in the Pueblo Room    

   "Mark Brandvik paintings and sculptures locate the viewer within a specific setting or narrative that builds upon larger themes of place and location.  His paintings of mid-century Las Vegas architecture present classics such as Paul Williams’ La Concha Motel, the Four Queens Hotel, and most recently, Davy’s Locker. Homes, slot bars, churches, and motels are pared down to their idealized, essential forms; these iconic pictures may be read as homage to Las Vegas history, addressing both desire and loss." 

4.  Annual Heritage Street Holidays 

   Monday November 14, 2012 - Sunday January 16, 2013 
   

   "Step back into holidays past on Heritage Street, where the historic homes will be in old time trim.  Travel back through the decades from the 1900s to the 60s to enjoy the trees, ornaments and household decorations that made holiday seasons glad for Southern Nevadans.  Each house is complete with holiday presents under the tree and a holiday dinner on the table.  All decorations and themes are authentic to the era of the house.  From the 1900s to the 30s hand crocheted lacy ornaments, cotton snowmen, tree branch candles, glass balls and tinsel abound.  Popcorn and paper chains were popular tree garlands, and when fancy printed paper was not available packages were wrapped in plain white or brown paper. Hand made paper cones that hung on trees could be filled with popcorn or candy canes.  These slowly give way mass-produced shiny-bright glass and plastic, stenciled, striped and glittered, holiday decorations in all shapes and styles, accompanied by tinsel trees, color light wheels, bubble lights and Christmas elves.  The lawn outside would be occupied by Blow-Mold Santas, Snowmen and Reindeer.  Relive it on Heritage Street.  This annual display is included in the General Admission price."
   

You can always find featured speakers or singers and other special guests at the museum. Please check their website for all up-coming events.

Open Daily 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

CLOSED Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
General Admission: adults $2.00, seniors and children $1.
Group Tours, please call for reservations and special rates
Museum memberships are also available
(702) 455-7955