Everything appears to be normal now that the majority of people have received COVID-19 immunizations and museums in Las Vegas, have reopened for business but not all. Here are the top eight must-see open museums in the area, ranked by Google star rating:
- The Mob Museum (4.6-star rating)
The Mob Museum is number one on the list. The museum, located on Stewart Avenue, features artifacts and multimedia displays that discuss mobs, criminal history, and fights against the law. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which occurred on February 14, 1929 and saw members of Al Capone’s gang shot in front of the wall, is one of the museum’s must-see artifacts.
Jenifer Murphy said, “This was a really interesting museum about organized crime covering origins, forms, trades and impact on society. We also did the moonshine distillery tasting, which you can skip unless you enjoy moonshine. Corn whiskey is not my thing. I did enjoy the ale brewed there and can recommend that. I think that was the first time in my life that I was allowed to tour a museum fully with a beverage in hand.”
- The Neon Museum (4.4-star rating)
It has a collection of historic neon signs from various structures in Las Vegas. The museum collects, maintains, and researches these historical signs to educate others about their history. Visit the spot after sunset or after dark to obtain a better look at the electrified signs.
ShaSha Grace commented, “A must-see if you have any interest in vintage stuff or the history of Vegas! We did the 45-minute guided tour followed by the 25-minute Brilliant! show. It’s definitely worth doing both. 100% wheelchair/mobility scooter accessible. The path is fine gravel and there are some minor hills but I had no trouble pushing my friend through. The tour guide had a mic and we could hear him clearly the entire time, even when lagging behind to take pics.”
- Pinball Hall of Fame (4.7-star rating)
The museum showcases the world’s most extensive pinball collection, which spans the 1950s to the 1990s. These machines, as well as other popular arcade games, are accessible to play.
Travis Kelly said, “The sheer amount of games here is staggering. Most of them are in really great shape, and you get to play all of them that are operational. They have some incredibly rare tables that you get to play. Would highly recommend to any pinhead, or to anyone looking for a fun afternoon of pinball and video games.”
- Madame Tussauds Las Vegas (4.4-star rating)
Another must-see is Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, the world’s most incredible wax museum, showcasing politicians and celebrities’ wax figures. You can see and take pictures with personalities such as Beyonce, Drake, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and many others.
DivaDawn Marie commented, “I had a lot of fun in this museum I would definitely go back again. It’s crazy to see them up close and personal and know that this is what the celebrities actually look like in real life it’s kind of cool.”
- Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum (4.6-star rating)
Fans of the Ghost Adventure series and those seeking excitement and mystery should see this museum. This property on Charleston Boulevard was thought to be a hunting mansion in 1938. It includes the Dybbuk Box, which is said to be the world’s most haunted object, as well as 30 rooms based on various Hollywood films. To visit the museum, you must be at least 16 years old.
Jenn recommended it saying, “I would love to post a million photos but I didn’t take any! This was the coolest museum I have seen in quite some time. I highly recommend getting the RIP passes it is definitely worth the money. This has such an extensive collection of things that in the 2-3 hours you spend in there there is no way you see everything. I can’t wait to go back and see what I missed.”
- Discovery Children’s Museum (4.7-star rating)
Previously known as the Lied Discovery Children Museum, this is a place where children can have fun while learning about science, arts and culture. This is a site that even adults would love visiting.
Azela Albanez commented, “My son loved this place, so much things to do and I was so excited when I saw this place be featured on Blippi! My son is addicted to Blippi so getting to see this in person was so freaking awesome!!! If you’re visiting make sure to take your kiddos here!”
- National Atomic Testing Museum (4.5-star rating)
The museum recounts America’s 70-year history with nuclear weapons and their testing at the Nevada Test Site. The large nuclear reactor that was used in the construction of the nuclear rocket can be seen here.
Paul Bowman said, “This was way more fascinating than I thought it would be. We ran out of time and we had almost 2 hours. I’ll definitely be going back here to read in further detail the displays and see the videos they have to present. The gift shop was cool and prices seemed fair. My wife picked up some stuff of course. Okay so did I. Everybody that work there was super friendly and helpful. Oh! And parking is a piece of cake. Might be tough for a large RV or something but for a regular passenger car it was a breeze.”
- REAL BODIES at Bally’s (4.5-star rating)
REAL BODIES at Bally’s uses original preserved bodies to demonstrate human anatomy. Over 200 anatomical specimens and around 20 genuine preserved human bodies are on sight. Their most recent content depicts the effects of the COVID-19 virus on the human body.
Valerie Victoria commented, “Real bodies was very interesting and a great learning experience! I’m not into anything medical but still had a blast. I highly recommend! There are soooo many cool things to look.”