Programs & Signature Events

FRANCES HUMPHREY LECTURE SERIES

Since 1993 the Nevada State Museum has honored educator and historian Frances Humphrey with a lecture series in her name. These evening talks on a Nevada history topic are held on the fourth Thursday of every month except December. We are currently offering lectures in-person in the Dema Guinn Concourse. Check our events calendar for details on this month’s lecture.

CURATOR’S CORNER

On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, curators present an object or group of objects to visitors passing through the museum’s demonstration gallery. The museum has collected and interpreted objects related to Nevada’s unique heritage, including historical, cultural, anthropological, and natural history since 1941. This is an opportunity for visitors to experience some of these amazing objects not regularly on display. Check our events calendar for details.

LUNAR NEW YEAR

We celebrate Lunar New Year on the first Saturday of the Chinese New Year. This program includes Chinese music and dance demonstrations, hands-on new year-themed craft activities, and a Lion Dance parade up Carson Street to the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada. This program is free to the public in our Dema Guinn Concourse.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Since 2006 the Nevada State Museum has celebrated Nevada’s Hispanic heritage with the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. This program has grown into a community-wide event in collaboration with the Western Nevada College Latino Cohort, Visit Carson City, Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, the Brewery Arts Center and the Carson City School District. The festival features community-made ofrendas (altars) on display, live music and folk dancing, storytelling, face painting and hands-on craft activities.

NEVADA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING TOURS

The Capitol was completed in 1871 and housed all three branches of government. Today, the Capitol building houses the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and state treasurer, as well as a business office for the secretary of state. It’s also home to the Battle Born Hall museum on the building’s second floor. Trailblazing Nevada, the current exhibit, takes visitors through the full Silver State narrative, from prehistory to the 19th-century mining boom to current times. This building — a structure rich with history, still functioning, and open to the public — is a state treasure of which all Nevadans can be proud.

The Nevada State Capitol Building is open to the public and free to tour. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the building during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays). Docent-guided tours on weekdays are by appointment only. Complete our Tour Request Form to reserve a weekday tour. Saturday docent-guided tours are walk-in only and occur at the top of every hour between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Email nsmeducation@nevadaculture.org or call the Nevada State Museum Education Department at 775-687-0653 for more information.