Beatty Museum and Historical Society - Beatty, Nevada - Mining Museum on Death Valley's Doorstep

Located in Nye County, Nevada, just six miles from the California border, Beatty is the first community of any size one comes to when driving northwest from Las Vegas toward Reno. It has often been called the east gateway to Death Valley National Park.

The Beatty Museum and Historical Society is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, dedicated preserving of the history of Beatty and its surrounding area. This is the heart of the Bullfrog Mining District and the site of the ruins of Rhyolite - true vestiges of the old Wild West.

Beatty was established in 1904, and the relics gathered here paint an interesting picture of the town's growth and decline. Through historic photos and documents, one comes to appreciate what the founders of the museum realized as they sat over coffee some years back: without an effort to preserve the past, the legacy of a very important part of history would be lost.

With the support of local residents and friends who became the first members of the Society, the museum opened in a small cottage in 1995. Generous donations of funds and artifacts helped the museum outgrow its first home, and for a while it was relocated inside the town's old water building across the street.

Five years later another move was necessitated, and the museum was reestablished within an historical church, its current home. The building itself has been renovated and expanded to include space for a research room as well as the enlarged collection.

The museum's exhibits, photographs, and collected antiques present an opportunity to understand what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. There are displays showing how early miners lived, worked and played, as well as information on the "Bullfrog Gold Rush'' era of 1904-1907.

Visitors can learn about ghost towns, too, along with the area's other attractions. Although no tours are provided, the museum has staff members who are available to answer any questions visitors might have.

The Beatty Museum and Historical Society is supported through memberships, donations, or fund raisers. Currently, there are some 200 members in the United States and Europe on the museums list of patrons.

Although donations are always welcome, appreciated, and tax deductible, there is no charge for admission. The hours of operation are 10am to 3pm daily, and the museum is closed on most holidays. Unless otherwise noted noted, photography with hand-held cameras intended for personal use is allowed, but tripods and lights are not.

The address of the Beatty Museum and Historical Society is 417 Main Street, Beatty, Nevada 89003. From Las Vegas, take US Highway 95 North approximately 115 miles. Upon reaching the four-way stop at State Route 375, turn left onto Main Street. The museum is a bout two and a half block down on the left in what was once an old church. Ample free parking is available in front for cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, and buses.