9 Under-the-Radar Museums in Las Vegas

One of the most significant nuclear test sites in the United States—a place where underground and atmospheric tests were conducted up until 1992—is located just 65 miles (105 kilometers) from Las Vegas.

You can learn about the legacy of said site via the thousands of photographs, artifacts, videos, and scientific reports at the National Atomic Testing Museum, which documents decades of experiments. A replica of the test site’s Control Point even shows where countdowns took place prior to each historical detonation.

Don’t miss: Simulations of an above-ground nuclear test in the Ground Zero Theater.

Once upon a time, brightly colored signs for the Desert Inn, Flamingo, and Desert Sands defined the Las Vegas skyline. Today, those retro signs live on at the Neon Museum, home to a collection of salvaged art that is also known as the “neon boneyard.”

The museum’s wheelchair accessible outdoor viewing area has more than 250 unrestored signs, with the oldest ones dating back to the 1930s, so a stop at this offbeat museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s early years.

Don’t miss: Rotating special exhibits featuring modern neon artists and private collections.

With claims to the world’s largest collection of pinball machines, the Pinball Hall of Fame is an enthusiast’s dream. The huge collection of pinball games spans decades—the oldest is from the 1930s—and it also has arcade classics including Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, and Space Invaders.

If you're considering a visit, know that the all-ages museum is free and every game is available to play, making it an ideal spot for families. Bring cash to change into quarters in the on-site machines; here, you can still play pinball for just a couple of coins.

Don’t miss: The 1934 Rockola Jigsaw pinball machine that’s the collection’s oldest artifact.

It doesn’t get more Vegas than this. The private collection of KISS bassist and frontman Gene Simmons is now a museum, part of a sprawling, KISS-themed attraction that also includes a blacklit rock ‘n’ roll mini-golf course and wedding chapel.

Inside the museum, you’ll find signed copies of every KISS album, along with band members’ guitars, cars, drums, and stage props. You can even see Gene Simmons’ high-school diploma, while an on-site gift shop contains pretty much every item of KISS merch imaginable.

Don’t miss: Vintage videos of interviews with band members.

Sometimes, the car is the star. This sprawling Las Vegas car museum showcases vehicles that have appeared in films, ranging from the Back to the Future Delorean to the Lotus Esprit submarine car that Roger Moore drove in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

Also on display is a 40-foot (12.2-meter) pink convertible limousine sporting a heart-shaped hot tub that appeared in the television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. There's even a jet-black Batmobile.

Don’t miss: The 12-foot-high (3.7-meter-high), American flag–painted Roller Skate Hot Rod built for designer Marc Jacobs.

Rumor has it that the 1938 Tudor revival Wengert Mansion is haunted—so it’s fitting that the sprawling landmark now houses Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum. Inside, more than 30 rooms showcase a truly creepy array of artifacts including Bela Lugosi’s haunted mirror; the possessed Peggy the Doll; and a rocking chair linked to a grisly murder.

All visits to the museum are guided, including the extra-eerie after-dark ghost tours, which are conducted by flashlight for added effect.

Don’t miss: The basement. According to local legend, this part of the house is the site of paranormal activity linked to “dark rituals.”

It's perhaps no surprise that you'll find the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas, a city well known for its liberal attitude toward sex and erotica. This 18-and-over–only establishment is devoted to the intersection of art and human sexuality, displaying paintings, sketches, watercolors, and other art forms in its 24,000-square-foot (2,230-square-meter) space.

But don't be deceived: The museum also blends education with both contemporary and historical art for a multifaceted look at the role sex plays in culture—in Las Vegas and beyond.

Don’t miss: The museum’s small-group naked yoga classes on Thursday evenings.

Officially named the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the Mob Museum opened in 2012 to introduce the public to the gritty—and often violent—history of the mob in the US. Here, you'll find interactive exhibits, multimedia displays, and authentic artifacts from the Prohibition era to today.

And given that the museum is located in a former courthouse and post office in downtown Las Vegas, it's an interesting spot to visit, whether you’re a history buff or a true crime fan.

Don't miss: The speakeasy in the basement that serves up era-inspired cocktails

You might be surprised to find a massive kids' museum in the heart of "Sin City," but that's exactly what you'll find at the DISCOVERY Children's Museum. Spread across three floors, the museum offers interactive exhibits where kids can learn about everything from technology to environmental stewardship.

There are plenty of opportunities for problem-solving and pretend play, too, allowing families to escape the desert heat and learn something along the way.

Don’t miss: The kid-sized Las Vegas Airport exhibit, where kids can pretend to be pilots, ground crew, and more.