Arts & Culture

Located south of the Great Basin, Clark County lies within the Mojave Desert, where beautiful sunsets light up the mountain ranges surrounding the Las Vegas Valley. Beyond the region’s natural beauty, you’ll find evidence of the flourishing Nevada arts community across Clark County. 

Building murals, street art, and sculptures lighten the mood with bold design and architecture, lending to the idea that in Southern Nevada, anything is possible. Let your imagination run wild as you gaze at the Dream Machine near Harry Reid International Airport or the art along the Flamingo Arroyo Trail. 

Ten miles south of Las Vegas is Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains, a public art installation that blasts unlikely color against the beautiful natural backdrop of Ivanpah Valley year-round. 

Cultural affairs around the county also include several museums with revolving exhibits, such as the government center’s Rotunda Gallery and the Winchester Gallery. 

Whether you have an interest in the history of aviation, mining, or something in between, Clark County has a museum to satisfy your hunger. Searchlight Museum explores the county’s hundred years of history, starting from the county’s growth after the completion of the Hoover Dam and its reservoir, Lake Mead. At Searchlight Museum, you’ll find information on local Academy Award costume designer Edith Head and John Macready, one of the pilots on the first nonstop flight over the United States. 

Head to the Lost City Museum, one of seven Nevada state museums, and browse its exhibition galleries, screening room, research library, and outdoor exhibits including a Native American pit house and reconstructed pueblos. Want to dive deeper into the history of the county? Head to Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, a state park which documents the site of the Las Vegas Valley’s first non-native dwelling. Or, take a tour of ghost towns in the region dating back to the wild west, from Bunkerville to Riverside. 

The Clark County Museum offers another look into the county’s storied past. Located on a 30-acre site, the museum features a modern exhibit hall and a timeline about the county, from pre-historic times through Nevada’s statehood to modern day. Learn about Clark County’s multicultural heritage, including how the Basques arrived in Northern Nevada and later Southern Nevada after the California gold rush, or how the Silver State got its name thanks to the discovery of silver in Virginia City’s Comstock Lode. Explore collections that recount the American west, the historic importance of ranching to Nevada’s economy, and long-forgotten eras. Whether you’re visiting from out-of-state or a Nevadan from Carson City, Reno, Elko, or Ely, you’ll learn something new at the Clark County Museum. 

Discover the rich cultural landscape of Clark County with the Winchester Cultural Arts Center, which hosts exciting events that showcase the spirit and heart of the local community. Candlelit and beautifully detailed altars mark the Mexican tradition surrounding the Life in Death Festival, where performances and poems confront a humorous attitude and lack-of-fear of death. 

The annual Jazz in the Park Concert Series rings in the spring season for Clark County with weekly performances for friends and family to enjoy. Grab a picnic blanket, a few chairs and dinner, and spend an evening at this widely-popular community event. 

Honor Nevada’s Indigenous heritage at Powwow for the Planet, an annual celebration held at the University of Nevada Las Vegas that brings together cultural dances, music, and authentic Native American artisan vendors. The event advocates for the protection of sacred tribal places, with voices from communities including the Washoe and Western Shoshone. This free, public gathering is a meaningful way to connect with the Indigenous cultures that have shaped Nevada for generations.