Clark County Museum: Walking Through Historical Chapters

As a Vegas native, recognizing each crevice and turn of Sin City comes with an experience earned from familiarity, yet a few questions always arise.

What was Las Vegas before it became what we know and love? That curiosity drove me to discover the Clark County Museum, where the city’s history is told.

A Portal To The Past

The journey begins at the main exhibit, which showcases and allows history-goers and families alike to discover the once-inhabited community. These discoveries range from how they used to live on the land to how they traveled to the Vegas area 100-200 years ago.

The past tribes of Native Americans and their heritage being passed down to and maintained by the community is interesting to relate to today’s standard. From even having a replica of one of the homes the Natives used to live in made from sod, clay, and brick.

Guests are encouraged to feel everything they can, which connects them to the past even closer. One exhibit even had fossils pulled from Tule Springs!

One of these curiosities is a game of tiles you can play with your friends or family. According to the exhibit, the tiles have flat and round sides.

These tiles would then be flipped on a wooden leaf, depending on what way it lands, if on the flat side, it would land you a point, first to 10 wins!

You could even bet between friends! Although dangerous, the Natives used to bet resources, or even food or drinking water amongst themselves.

Visitors are then transported to early modern times, closer to the 1900s, when boats could sail Lake Mead and the Hudson River, which passed much closer to Vegas than we know today.

You get to feel what it’s like to steer these boats, as a replica of a ferry from the early 1900s is there for guests to know what it was like to steer through the lake.

This brings visitors to the era of the casino and its emergence in the mid-1900s. The first ever casino on the strip was El Rancho built in 1941, and other replicas you can pretend to gamble on are present for you to feel what it was like back when the casino was placed in Vegas.

Depending on what is being showcased, a new exhibit is also placed in the interior every few months. Upon my visit, it was antique toys, including a very niche but incredibly unique Henderson version of Monopoly.

Ghost Town’s Lonely Road

Museum-goers then move on to the exterior and larger portion of the museum itself. The clerk recommended that visiting the replica Ghost Town be a great place to start.

As you approach this abandoned town and explore the hidden story it tells within, original equipment stands there from mines, farms, and construction, all close to 100 years old. Which also transitions into the storied history of Las Vegas and its railroads and transportation.

In the early to mid-1900s, Vegas was already seen as a tourist destination. Not many people lived here then, but with the emergence of railroads and airplanes becoming much more common, this was when Vegas started to expand into casinos, hotels, and resorts altogether.

An incredibly impressive replica of an airline ticket office with its own VIP waiting area transports you to a time when waiting for TSA was not a worry. Right next to it are two box cars from an old train that, yes, used to run!

These boxcars have been there for over 100 years, and you can even take a stroll and a seat on one. You can revel in the past right next to the train station where it used to depart.

Foretold Legends of Residents of the Past

Along the route, there is a street that is supposed to replicate a neighborhood from the 1900s. Houses that used to be scattered across the valley are now preserved at the Museum. You can hop in, visit, and learn more about each one as the audio guides you through what you may find.

All of these houses are kept in their original condition from when they were obviously inhabited. Each one has a unique exhibit that, yet again, encourages guests to sift through history and piece together each livelihood encountered.

Throughout the desert trail, you notice the variety and odd familiarity of each person.

Every time I stepped into a few houses, I couldn’t help but think that these buildings, or similar ones at least, can still be found around Vegas to this day!

Another impressive fixture between these houses is an old-style printing house. These printing houses were used between the 1800s and 1940s before the invention of more modern printing presses. The most amazing thing about this building was the absolutely stunning ceiling! One can only imagine how busy these printing houses were!

The final stop down this road is an old wedding chapel called the Candlelight Wedding Chapel. Some locals may recognize that name, as this chapel has been across the street from the Circus Circus since 1966.

It also holds the record for most weddings done in one day, with an impressive 425! Some celebrities have also gotten married in this same chapel, including Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Michael Caine, and Barry White.

It closed its doors in 2003 for reasons undisclosed, but it sat vacant for over 4 years until 2007 when it was decided that the building as a whole should be preserved and maintained at the Clark County Museum.

Setting Sun On The Valley

Throughout this museum, stories are absolutely endless and tell such a unique perspective of what we have become so familiar with in Vegas. After this visit I find myself more open and appreciative to what Vegas used to be.

From the interactions found with the past to the relatability you find within the households that once were, this museum allows you to expand your sense and understanding.

It may even be an amazing opportunity to test your knowledge of Vegas. But beware: The Clark County Museum will definitely test it!