Museums in Reno

Reno’s museums are akin to those in other small cities. Northern Nevada’s number one destination has a respectable contemporary art scene and is proud of its unique history. It has plenty of animal and nature centered attractions and exhibit spaces dedicated to casinos and car culture. Reno’s museum scene benefits from a handful of interesting specialized exhibit spaces of the University of Nevada at Reno. These venues combine to create a lively museum scene with plenty of options to keep tourists busy.

Here are the best exhibits to visit when you are in Reno.

The Sierra Safari Zoo is a respectably-sized small-city zoo with plenty of animals. Lions, Tigers, Zebras and other zoo favorites, including a half-dozen species of monkey, are housed inside the venue. Meanwhile, Animal Ark, a wildlife refuge for un-releasable animals, is open during the warmer months of the year (April through October) and also on select winter weekends. Though it is open to the public, the focus of this refuge is on conservation and education. That might be refreshing for those jaded by theme-park-like zoos in larger cities.

The National Automobile Museum in Reno is a destination for car lovers, and also for those interested in culture and 20th Century history. Despite the fact that many similar museums seem to give in to gimmickry, the National Automobile Museum is well respected and is as focused on history as it is on showmanship. There are four galleries, each one containing cars from a different era of auto history, from the 1890s until the present. There is also a theater with regularly scheduled lectures and performances. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children.

The Nevada Museum of Art is the best place in the state to view contemporary art. It costs $10 to enter, but children under 12 are only charged $1. The building itself is as interesting as the art. It is considered one of the finest examples of contemporary architecture in Northern Nevada. There are collections and a full schedule of rotating and traveling exhibitions. Current temporary exhibitions include the works of James Audubon and a photographic history of Reno’s past punk music scene.