Elko Museums

Explore history in the present tense with these popular Elko museums for those seeking to learn more about the early days of our town.

elko museum
Elko’s Western Folklife Center Museum

Explore the rich history of Elko and Nevada at one of the town’s several historic and cultural museums.

Elko museums delve deep into the past while keeping you firmly grounded in the present as you witness how the town has grown from a dusty outpost to a thriving town filled with a vibrant arts and culture scene.

Learn about the history of hunting at the Wannamaker Wildlife Wing and explore art galleries with original images from Ansel Adams and Edward Weston at the Northeastern Nevada Museum. Put yourself in the shoes of early pioneers and Native Americans at the California Trail Interpretive Center. Experience cowboy culture firsthand at the Western Folklife Center and the Cowboy Arts & Gear Museum. Then, take a road trip to area ghost towns for the full Old West experience.

History lovers will embrace every moment of their stay in Elko, NV.

Historic Sites

See where the Pony Express ran, walk where the Donner Party crossed through Elko, visit old mining towns such as Mountain City, Gold Creek and Tinto and explore artifacts at the Sherman Station Visitor’s Center and other area museums.

elko nv museum

Western Folklife Center

Home to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, this museum hosts Western artwork, education programs, children’s activities and more in the historic Pioneer Hotel at 501 Railroad St.

museums in elko nv

California Trail Interpretive Center

West of Elko on I-80, this center tells the stories of pioneers along with a Shoshone village, a wagon encampment and tales from the Donner Party Disaster. Take Exit 292.

northern nevada museum

Northeastern Nevada Museum

Balancing culture, education and entertainment, this museum at 1515 Idaho St. includes early settler artifacts, a wildlife gallery and mastodon bones from nearby Spring Creek.

Cowboy Arts & Gear Museum

Home to the old G.S. Garcia saddle shop, this museum at 542 Commercial St. focuses on leather stamping classes, silver engraving demonstrations and more.