When in Tonopah, don't miss a visit to the Central Nevada Museum. It's interesting to virtually anyone curious about mining or Army Air Corp training bases during WWII. The museum staff can be rightfully proud with the Central Nevada Historical Society. Free, but donations are gratefully received. Nice gift shop stocked with informative books about Tonopah and Goldfield you probably won't find anywhere else.
Photos of town and its people. A lot of historic stuff that helps to tell the story. Really enjoyed it all!!!
Much larger inside than it looked. The bookstore and library have an amazingly large collection of Nevada and southwest reference material. They have the world's largest panoramic photograph (of Tonopah in its heyday). It was recently in the news with the discovery of the hundred-year-old custom-built camera--in Alaska! Don't be put off by the rusting old mining and farming machinery outside, inside is an incredible selection of historic artifacts, including aviation history at the Tonopah and Nellis bases.
I love the history and artifacts. Its a small museum that runs on donations only. The preserved cabins make my tiny apartment seem like a mansion. Reminds you of how easy life is now
The Museum is basically a random collection of cast-off mining junk. There are some interesting artifacts there (see my photos), but it really looks like any of the acres of cast-off mining equipment, old cars, wrecked trucks, abandoned shacks and brothels, and other junk that litters both sides of US 95 between about Amargosa Springs and Hawthorne. If you like browsing through thrift stores, you'll love this museum (I though the old crawler tractor was great - my grandfather had a similar one back in Nort' Dakotah).
really a nice size museum with alot of history and a library connected. really enjoyed their facility....i will be going back because its just not possible to see it all in two days. we love history...
If you have time and enjoy such museums this has a lot to offer and some good exibits. Most all is about the mining and military history of the town and area and well worth the stop if you have an hour or so.
I was in town by myself for half a day and walked here from Tonopah Station. I was at the museum for over 1 hour, and I was the only visitor at the museum during that whole hour. I learned a lot about the history of the town and other surrounding areas.
This little museum has some very interesting artifacts. The books were very over priced however. Maybe because there is not admission fee.
Has a great selection of artifacts from this area. They're very well displayed and labeled. Don't miss the outside area with labeled plants and rocks and small buildings and eclectic artifacts.