Saturday, September 14, 2013

Nevada State Museum

Family Flowers: Traditional Embroidery from S. Mexico
Through 2013, the rotating gallery at the Nevada State Museum presents the colorful embroidery of Romeo Siguenza, a Las Vegas folk artist, originally from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. The culturally significant handmade pieces tell the story of how traditional arts are passed down through generations
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Nevada State Railroad

Nevada State Railroad Museum Description

How many people can honestly say that they've ridden on a real train before? 
To experience an authentic train ride, take a trip to Boulder City, located only 30 minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip. This is the original train track used to bring supplies to the Hoover Dam. Today, guests can ride the train and listen to history about Boulder City, the city responsible for building the dam. 
"We get people from all over the world," said Bonnie Himka, a train engineer and volunteer for Nevada State Railroad Museum. "This is the only place you can ride a full-sized train in Nevada." 
Guests have the option of riding in an open air car or in one of the air conditioned/heated Pullman coaches. The open air car is great for picture taking, while the coaches are a great way to beat the heat or cold. In addition to the recorded narration, volunteers dressed in railroad attire are available to answer any questions and share fun facts during the ride.
The train ride is seven miles round trip and drives up to Railroad Pass casino and back. The entire ride is 45 minutes long, so you'll have plenty of time to take pictures. See planes land at the Boulder City airport, the lush greenery at the golf course and even a solar panel farm. You'll also see close-up views of the Southwest desert. During one point, the train comes so close to the side of the mountain you can almost touch it. 
A gift shop is also available. There is a complimentary ride that takes you to see all the old train cars. 
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Strip, a train ride in Boulder City is the perfect remedy.
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Mount Charleston

Mount Charleston Description

Las Vegas sizzles with excitement, but let's face it -- the summer heat can get out of control. Temperatures reaching 115 degrees. The 160th straight day of sun. Even the most ardent of sun worshippers are looking for a break and hotel swimming pools and air-conditioned malls just aren't enough.
Luckily just 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas visitors can find all the cool mountain breezes, fresh air and all-around scenic beauty of Mount Charleston.
Part of the Spring Mountain Range and Toiyabe National Forest, Mount Charleston ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. It is Nevada's eighth-highest mountain peak and one of the Top 10 most topographically prominent peaks in the United States.
Featuring trees like juniper, mountain mahogany, Aspen and Ponderosa pine and animals such as wild burros, songbirds, deer and desert tortoises, Mount Charleston feels a million miles away from the city. 
Get your hiking stick, bottled water and Timberland boots ready. The hiking trails at Mount Charleston (52 miles total) will amaze you.
Branch Whitney, author of "Hiking Las Vegas" and "Hiking Southern Nevada," has traveled numerous trails in Las Vegas for the past two decades. "Many tourists believe Las Vegas is surrounded by desert," Whitney said. "They will change their minds when they see waterfalls, forests and wildflowers as they hike in Mount Charleston."
She said tourists should check out hiking trails in Mount Charleston to escape the heat of Vegas. "It's 25 to 40 degrees cooler," she said, "and the hiking trails are not crowded like other areas."
If you're a beginner hiker, the popular Mary Jane Falls trail has a seasonal waterfall and even a cave. This kid-friendly, two-mile trail is only an hour long. Fletcher Canyon is another easy hike, featuring walls up to 100 feet.
Whitney said Big Falls and Cathedral Rock are great half-day hikes. "Big Falls has a seasonal 100-foot waterfall and Cathedral Rock has impressive views," said Whitney.
Visitors can spot animals they don't often see at the 10-mile Bonanza Peak trail where wild horses still roam.
The 17-mile Charleston Peak trail features meadows with rows and rows of wildflowers, while Griffith Peak offers views of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead. There are more than 200 campsites, 160 picnic areas and RV spaces available in the Mount Charleston area.
"Dolomite campground has lots of amenities and has cooler temperatures than most campgrounds in the Charleston area," said Whitney.
Located in Kyle Canyon at more than 7,000 feet, the 24 log cabins at Mount Charleston Lodge provide comfort for those seeking a more modern refuge without giving up the outdoorsy feel entirely. Each cabin comes with a spacious outdoor deck and a fireplace. The restaurant at the lodge is a favorite spot offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Here you'll find everything from burgers to elk chops. And don't forget to try the Mt. Charleston Coffee as well as hot chocolate.
For a taste of luxury, the Hotel at Mount Charleston features fine restaurants, a full day spa, live music and special events like wine tasting and movies under the stars.
If you prefer to bring your own food, the popular Cathedral Rock Picnic Area at the end of Kyle Canyon Road features more than 80 individual and group picnic spots, as well as toilet facilities. 
Weddings, golf courses and even homes for sale are also available at Mount Charleston. If the casino buzz and sweltering heat are getting to you, then Mount Charleston is the answer.

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Motion rides

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Mob Museum

Mob Museum Description

The Mob Museum is going to expose you to history that your school textbooks didn't dare to cover.
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas on Stewart Avenue and Third Street (right by Main Street Station), The Mob Museum is an interactive attraction showcasing the history of these famed gangsters. Here you'll get an inside look at organized crime's impact not only in Las Vegas, but its influence in America and the world.
From the same design team that created the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C., the 41,000-square-foot Mob Museum includes about 16,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors. It features in-depth exhibits about the mob, myths about the mob, and so much more. 
Some find mobsters strangely fascinating, while others get excited about the good guys who brought them to their demise. If you're into the law enforcement side, you'll get a chance to read a lot about them, too.
One of the key exhibits is the actual courtroom used in the Kefauver hearings, the first mob-related event to be televised. The museum is located inside the former federal courthouse where the 1950-51 Kefauver Committee hearings were held. The Kefauver Committee investigation contributed to the national debate on organized crime that developed after World War II. 
"This was the first media sensation," said Kathleen Hickey Barrie, curator for the Mob Museum. "Viewers invited the mob into their living room. The Kefauver hearings became the thing, and Americans were absolutely mesmerized with [it]. They'd spend hours watching them.
"The big thing about the Kefauver hearings is not so much the laws that came out of it, but really the way the public opinion turned," she continued. "And you have this marvelous cast of characters around the country talking about their business enterprises."
The dimly-lit courtroom shows historical clips on a big screen and just outside, you can read more about the hearings.
More law enforcement exhibits include a wire-tapping station where you can listen in on actual conversations that happened. See testimonies of FBI agents on audio-visual panel (AVP) screens and even try your aim with an FBI firearms training simulator. There's also a police lineup booth where visitors can step into and be "suspects."
If you're all about seeing the bad guys and their dirty deeds, the Mob Museum exposes just that. Read a timeline of the mob, watch an AVP screen on becoming a "made" man, step into a room and learn how a "skim" works, and see a wall explaining where mobsters go once incarcerated. 
The museum's most valuable artifact is the brick wall from Chicago's Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. The museum explains the murder of seven Moran gang members led by Al Capone's South Side Italian gang. The wall includes a 38-caliber Colt Detective special revolver, the only gun directly related to the shooting. This gun is believed to have belonged to Moran gang member, Frank Gusenberg.
"[This] was the most violent crime in America, even the world," said Barrie. 
Another object on display is the original barber chair where mobster Albert Anastasia (who was brutally shot and killed while getting a haircut and shave) once sat. Another artifact is an Abercrombie & Fitch leather valise that dates to the 1920s. This valise features a false bottom in which flasks of liquor were once hidden during Prohibition. 
The museum also carries items that belonged to Al Capone, Charlie Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin Siegel, Sam Giancana, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen and Tony Spilotro, among others. Other artifacts include guns, weapons, jewelry, personal belongings and hundreds of photographs.
If you're sensitive to gory details, then this museum may not be for you - the attraction showcases weapons and violent photos of deceased mob members found at crime scenes. 
For those into the glitz and glamour of the mob portrayed in Hollywood, the Mob Museum has you covered. Take a seat in one of the comfy booths in a posh and swanky theater room and see all your favorite clips from various gangster movies.
From the archives of the Las Vegas News Bureau, the Mob Musuem features photos of downtown as it appeared in the 1950s. Photos of hotels, local businesses and storefronts comprise this unique collection. The Mob Museum, seen from its days as a federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office, is also part of the exhibition.
The enormous gift shop includes all sorts of fun souvenirs, including tuxedo-printed baby onesies. 
Built in the 1920s, the restored courthouse is one of the city's last remaining historical buildings. The attraction cost approximately $42 million to construct.
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Mob Attraction Las Vegas

Mob Attraction Las Vegas Description

Why simply read or watch movies about mobsters when you can learn about them through an interactive storytelling experience, instead? 
Mob Attraction Las Vegas takes you into the world of the mob with character actors, hologram celebrity guides, unusual artifacts and so much more. The spacious, 27,000-square-foot area also makes it easy and comfortable to navigate through. During the beginning of your tour, you'll be given immigration papers that play a part of your ultimate "fate" in the end. After you get your picture taken and watch a brief video about Prohibition, the real fun begins. 
You'll be greeted with a hologram celebrity gangster guide who shares mob facts and leads you through the tour. Next, the attraction's live actors come into play. Will you help "Big Tony" in a deal? Or will you be a good guy and spill the beans to the authorities? You'll also be asked how a gambling cheater should be punished. These characters make the experience entertaining and give you a taste of the mafia lifestyle. Be careful -- if you giggle out of nervousness, they will call you out on it! You'll even step into a soft count room where you'll learn about "the skim," when mob bosses set aside money for themselves.
But the Las Vegas Mob Attraction is more than just playing along with actors. You’ll also get a sense of who these famed mobsters really were. Walk through the physical timeline from the start of the mob days to its downfall in Las Vegas. Get an up-close look at Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's  1933 Packard 12 limousine and watch hologram versions of Siegel and fellow mobster (the "brain" behind the mob) Meyer Lansky discussing their vision in Vegas. 
This isn't the last you see of these two. In the artifacts section, see a replica of Siegel's living room, complete with home videos. We're always used to seeing Siegel in suits, but here you can see him in his Speedo trunks splashing around in the pool with his kids. Just a couple of steps away, read handwritten letters Siegel wrote to his daughter Millicent's mother. 
See a collection of Meyer Lansky's quirky and colorful bow ties, golf clubs and even his Medal of Freedom, which he received from President Harry Truman. 
There are several digital displays peppered throughout the attraction so you can gain an in-depth history of these men. Instead of looking at Lansky’s journal under a glass, there’s a touch screen version where you can read and “flip” to the next page by swiping your finger. 
One bizarre collection includes mobster Tony Spilotro's stolen pieces. See an actual police badge he ripped off an officer and even medals he stole from a veteran's house. While most kids receive toy cars, video games or dolls, these were the type of items he would give to his son. 
The staff at Mob Attraction developed relationships with family members to attain these artifacts. In addition, the digital photos frames are interesting to look at -- you see a glimpse of these mobsters as family men. Across the way, step into a room and brush up your mob trivia with interactive touch screens sharing history. 
The attraction features a bar where you can order your favorite drink. Right next door, relax in a theater room and watch a documentary of the making of "The Godfather." This room also includes other Hollywood memorabilia on display, including the "Casino" movie script signed by Nicholas Spileggi. 
And finally, your fate. After walking through the looming "Hall of Shame," step into the room and face your mob boss. Will you become part of the family? Will you be be murdered for snitching? Or will you be recruited into the Witness Protection Program? 
After your tour, your immigration photos will be available for view and purchase. Browse through the gift shop for apparel with amusing catch phrases like "I got whacked."
If you're looking for an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours on the Las Vegas Strip, Mob Attraction Las Vegas is "a hit."
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Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Description

It's not every day we spot celebrities. And when we do happen to see them, it's challenging to whip our phones out to snap a decent picture. 
At Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, not only will you have enough time to take a picture with your favorite superstar, but you'll be sure to fool your friends back home, too. The 100-plus wax replicas look so real that you'll find yourself taking a second glance.
The best part of the two-floor, 30,000-square-foot museum is having the chance to get up-close and personal with each celebrity. Touching is highly encouraged. After all, you want your pictures to look as realistic as possible, right? Some replicas have fun little features included. For instance, if you touch Jennifer Lopez's backside, she blushes.
Some guests get a bit carried away with the whole interactive element though. Aside from the usual lipstick marks and scratches on the replicas, visitors in the past have even styled or braided hair. Picture Benjamin Franklin in dreadlocks and Lindsay Lohan in pigtails. Overly eager guests have even shattered wax figures like Harrison Ford and Jenna Jameson to pieces. Fortunately, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas has a team of talented studio artists to repair such blunders. However, if it's beyond repair, the team has to send the figures back. Keep in mind while you're here that it's OK to touch -- just be mindful!
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas features tons of your favorite celebrities, from musicians and movie stars to sports figures and politicians. In the Hollywood/A-list room, get face-to-face with stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Bradley Cooper.
If you're a big music fan, then you're in luck. Madame Tussauds features musicians from all genres, from Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears to Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur. Tupac's figure looks so realistic, it'll send shivers up your spine. You'll hear his hit, "Dear Mama" playing in the background.
In the sports room, shoot hoops next to the towering Shaquille O'Neal figure or putt with Tiger Woods. In the "Marry Clooney" exhibit, ladies can put on a veil and stand next to the famous bachelor at the altar. The "Spirit of America" theme room features notable historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. The Vegas showroom showcases stars like Liberace, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Siegfried & Roy (complete with a white-striped tiger!) and Celine Dion.
Some celebrities get directly involved in order to make their figure. R&B sensation Beyoncé worked closely with Madame Tussauds artists in London as they replicated her hair color, make-up, body type and complexion. Gwen Stefani teamed with in-house studio artists at the Las Vegas location to help achieve the style of her wax figure. Fergie from Black Eyed Peas even donated one of her dresses to the museum.
The process of making a figure is lengthy -- it can take anywhere from four to six months. Once researchers conduct surveys on who should be included in the attraction, they find out as much as they can about the celebrity including how they pose in pictures, common facial expressions and their hairstyle and clothing preferences.
If he or she is able, the celebrity comes in for a sitting. The stylists take more than 150 measurements and 200 photos. This is also an opportunity for artists to match the hair and eye shade perfectly.  For the face, the team uses oil-based paints and applies it in layers, creating a realistic skin complexion. Fun fact: The body is not only made of wax, but also steel and clay.
To keep the attraction new and exciting, Madame Tussauds adds or rotates new figures frequently. There are dozens of locations throughout the world including Atlanta, New York, Shanghai, London and Amsterdam, to name a few.
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