I've been to Las Vegas over 20 times since 1986 and I had never been here. Found it on Groupon when researching new activities and decided to give it a try. Quite close to the strip, it is walkable but we drove. We spent about two hours here and it was very informative, giving us a much more well rounded knowledge base about the nuclear arms race than we had before. Nice air conditioning too! There are several 10-15 minute movies to watch and I would recommend all of them. read more

A must for "non fiction" geeks visting vegas. I learned a "megaton" about atomic testing and saw a lot of great artifacts. I was by myself and it took me a few hours to digest everything. After I was done I stopped by the Indian Buffet across the street and then went a few blocks over to silver 7s and rocked the craps table like I was godzilla. read more

This was a nice museum with lots of information about the Cold War, science and technology, and history of the Nevada testing sites. If you have time, there is a lot to read, movies and videos around the museum to watch. There was a section on the prehistory of the area, effects of nuclear testing on Paiute traditional cultural places. There was a section of the radiation effects of testing on the employees. There was a section on testing on groups of people such as the Marshall Islanders and fishermen during testing. The mannequin's are eery to me, but apparently you can take a DOE tour and see the actual sites on an all-day tour. Some of the museum staff actually worked on projects. The Area 51 display was kind of funky, it was too comical with aliens and flying saucers.... read more

This museum is top notch. If you're visiting Las Vegas, don't miss it! It's loaded with films, artifacts, media, an actual 1940's era intact office; you can even test your own radioactivity. In addition to The Atomic Testing Museum, there was also an eye opening exhibition of Russian propaganda posters in the gallery next door, same building. Very impressive. read more

I learned so much! This is densely packed, nonprofit treasure. This museum is well-curated with written information, rare artifacts, documentaries, a blast simulation, and more. The layout from a chronologically presented introduction to WWII through testing underground flowed well into exhibits of various related topics like local ecology, hydrology, innovations of research, the Stewardship program, and so on. I spent about 4 hours there and still didn't see it all. Thanks so much for maintaining this! (PS Carol in the gift shop was super kind and the front desk graciously checked our bags). read more

Tons of fun, truly fascinating! The exhibits follow a timeline, more or less, and include plenty of atomic era objects. Lots of information in text panels and videos - I especially enjoyed the Disney-produced short film on fission, and plan to show it at a science event I run. Anyone who plays Fallout but isn't familiar with the real-life history of atomic testing would go nuts here. The Area 51 exhibit was also open during our visit, and this was worlds away from the rest of the museum in quality, content, and every other standard of measurement; HOWEVER, we had loads of fun there, anyway. The exhibit is rickety, poorly built, embarassingly poorly designed and written, like a 5th grade class did it for a project. All the same, it was campy fun and we left that area with smiles on our faces. Note: we enjoyed it so much because it was an unexpected bonus to the rest of the museum. If we had traveled specifically to see Area 51, this review would read much differently. Overall, the main museum is absolutely worth a couple hours away from the strip! read more

Totally worth the visit. It was a rainy day in Vegas (I swear) so this was the perfect time kill. Great stories about the importance (with a little controversy thrown in) of above/below ground testing that took place NW of Vegas. Most Importantly- this is the only org that can get you - once a month - onto the actual grounds of the tests. Call them for details as dates are inconsistent at best and try to do so months in advance tho supposedly you might get lucky with an unclaimed seat. We didn't know about the visits till a docent told us about it. The Groupon others mentioned was available but since this is affiliated with the cash-strapped Smithsonian, we just paid full price. ONLY downside was a poorly stocked gift shop. read more

This museum is very informative and interesting. Even it is small I recommend 2 to 3 h tour. It is kind of far to walk from the Strip so I'd recommend to drive or Uber there. read more

Very interesting but super disappointed that the Area-51 exhibit was closed. I purchased a groupon and when I got there they had already closed for renovations. Aside from that, the museum was very informative! read more

I have been twice and still enjoyed my second visit. Through bad planning, I ended up going with a group of guests right after hitting the Mob Museum. Even after three hours at the previous museum reading a bunch of placards, this stop was still a hit and the agreed upon favorite. It helps that my teenage nephews are all interested in science and were sufficiently awed by the power of the bombs discussed. The staff is obviously very enthusiastic about the subject matter and we all loved the stories of casinos offering tour buses out to watch the testing back when they were above ground and the dangers were still unknown. It is a little chilling watching people intentionally stand in a radioactive fallout zone, but one of the guides told us people still come to the museum that were there back then. So obviously they didn't all grow a second head or turn into a radioactive superhero. The down side to this museum is that it could use a little updating and maybe some more interactive features. If you don't have the patience to do the reading, you may not get much out of it. The AREA 51 Exhibit was still being worked on, so we missed that though I imagine that will be a good addition. read more

A nice museum to visit when trying to escape the 110 degree heat. It has history and information about nuclear weapons and the war and the fallout since. The area 51 exhibit was interesting and fun too. It took about an hour and a half to get through both for two adults. read more

It is what it is. Do you like museums? Are you interested in nuclear weapons and nuclear testing? Then come on down. It isn't very far from the stip and never very crowded. Depending on how fast you do museums it can take 1 to a few hours. There is a nice little gift shop as well and its a great way to take a break from the strip. Only downside is that you can't take pictures in the museum but still a great experience. read more

This place was actually a lot cooler than I thought it was going to be. When I went they were also showcasing an Area 51 exhibit which I also saw. This museum I think is owned by the Smithsonian, so you got the story that the government wants you to hear. I personally laughed at a few of their shenanigans. It was worth seeing though. The Atomic museum was really cool and very educational. They had a lot of cool displays and a video feature which was cool. It is a walk through type of thing, unguided at your own pace. At the end they had a giant beam from the World Trade Center, which I felt was unrelated, but it still has a somber feel to it. read more

In Las Vegas there is plenty to do that will almost ensure you don't remember a majority of your visit. When I found myself taking some time off the strip, I encountered the National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM). I am not much of a History Buff myself, but greatly enjoyed learning a bit more about the testing process of the A Bomb. I think what I found most interesting was, unlike my history books from High School, we covered an almost exclusively scientifically analytic side of the history of the atomic bomb. While I was there I also got to learn a bit more about the facility itself and until reading some of the more recent reviews, didn't anticipate writing a review of my own. However, I think it is of some merit to mention that while some may find the display of the I Beam to be suggestively offensive, for others...like myself...the ability to go somewhere so close to my own home and be able to touch a piece of history that took place in my time. Well, it made me feel closer to those who we did lose, especially considering how much of the rubble isn't accessible. For me it was even more moving to consider that anyone who may have lost a loved one or close friend that day has a safe place to travel to where they might feel like a piece of that person is still alive. Just my own experience of how that particular display was not offensive at all, context is applied to all parts of these exhibits, but I believe this piece speaks for itself and directly to the people who need it. Lastly, what I found most interesting is that while this museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian, they are not a government funded museum. So the price you pay per ticket is necessary to ensure the museum makes a profit which allows them to cover not only the bills but allows them to hold different seminars with live speakers as well as offering an out standing intern program to teens and young adults all over the nation. read more

Went to the Atomic Energy Museum, super interesting with actual bombs, artifacts, newsreals, etc.. one really neat thing, I was reading and looking at a display from JC Penny's, seems the clothes and mannequins were donated to the Nevada Test Site during the blasts. Didn't know any of this but one of the Docents was on hand and told me the story. This was pretty cool, he volunteered information if you looked interested. He had lots of great stories, worked at the test site for 37 years. Would be great for kids, people who have never seen what an Atomic bomb can do, need to how devastating it is.used a Groupon, great deal!!!! read more

Really informative and well designed museum. Great for children who have an interest in science. Fun for adults to help understand details of the Cold War. And perfect for those still wondering about "Area 51." You walk away still asking a lot of questions but at least you begin to see the complexities of the whole situation, kind of?!!!! read more

Interesting and educational great information about the cold war era and the development of atomic weapons including some actual video footage of the bomb being tested above and underground. There was also a brief tour of Area 51 instead of aliens technology the reverse engineering of Russia MIG aircraft read more

Interesting. Informative. Frightening. The museum made me think about trust, governments, and issues in the world in which we live. What was it Einstein said? paraphasing: I don't know what weapons will be used to fight WW III, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones. read more

Such a nice place to visit! We had so much fun going there! Tons of things to learn! Amazing!

Not too far off the strip, this is well worth the cab ride. The top-quality exhibits document the atomic weapon industry and it's history around the world and Nevada. read more

Very informative. Checked this out for the Area 51 display but so glad we went and experienced this museum. We learned a lot about what went on during the days of atomic testing. It was real neat going through all the displays. I really did not know that they were doing this out in the Nevada desert. If you have a few hours to spare do yourself a favor and check this museum out. read more

Bigger than it looks! Goes into (almost painful) detail about the history of atomic testing, the science behind it, the cultural influences, etc. Wouldn't expect to only pay $35 (two military tickets, plus entrance to Area 51 exhibit) for a three-hour long trek through such a large museum! Took off one star because it's basically like reading a book; I love reading, but holy cow! It was like information overload! Tough to pick out the truly interesting stuff sometimes. Wouldn't really suggest it for little ones, there isn't a ton of interaction and it's super-heavy on information. read more

after visiting the mob museum I had high expectations. They are not even close to met :(

This exhibit provides a ton of information and timeline of the development of the nuclear bomb as well as information related to the testing and maintaining of the current nuclear arsenal. It's amazing of how much progress was made throughout the years. read more

Cool place to visit if you are looking to do something other than gamble. Took the bus down Flamingo. The Area 51 extra was a bit over hyped, but what the heck, for $6.00, I could have blown that in one hand at any table in Vegas. The place was meticulously clean, the man at the desk upon arrival was very polite and friendly. Nice gift shop, I'm sure folks with younger kids would love it! Lots of good history about the atomic testing that was done in Nevada. read more

This place was pretty boring. Unless you are extremely in to it, it would take you about an hour to walk both the ATM and the Area 51 Exhibit..and that's being nice. Best thing about the museum was the piece of I-Beam from the WTC from 9/11 at the end of the tour which was completely out of place. Also, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE AREA 51 EXHIBIT! First of all, it's not all about Area 51. For some strange reason, this corn maze/haunted house bullshit was mostly about the Roswell UFO Incident. This was a complete waste of time and money. read more

Beware: this is a private museum out making a profit. Not worth it IMO. No exciting photos. No good description. A haphazard collection of random, low quality, vague pictures that don't show anything. Not organized. No scientific or educational value at all waste of money and time. read more

If you're interested at all in the use of atomic weaponry, this museum is a must see. It is reading intensive, but the short films available in several stops at the museum are also great. The Ground Zero theater offers an interesting experience. I found several of the local periodicals that offered coupons that reduced the price by $2, making the museum only $10. I would plan to spend at least 1 hour in the museum. read more

If you've been in Vegas enough times that you don't care for the usual destinations any more -then this is a great place to spend some time, relax and learn something (if this is your first time in Vegas you are not reading this review anyway!). Great pictures and information about facts that most people don't even know that they ever happened. there is something nice to explore in every room but make sure that you don't miss the movie in the "bomb shelter", it's a nice experience. read more

Amazing...IF you like this sort of thing, which we do. If you don't have any interest in the particularly interesting time and place then don't bother. If you're cool you'll love it. read more

Just went there on Labor Day. It's a reasonable museum, but the kind you'd expect to be free (the Smithsonian museums in DC are free and they are of much better quality). I had already seen the museum's nuclear test footage in the movie "Trinity and beyond", so I was a little disappointed they didn't have films of other tests. In fact, a lot of the museum's various film clips were taken directly from "Trinity and beyond". I was also hoping to see some mockup nuclear weapons, showing what they look like on the inside, but perhaps there are obvious security reasons why that's not in the museum (despite plenty of details easily found on the internet!). Also, as a previous reviewer has mentioned, it's very imbalanced in its presentation of the horrors of nuclear weapons. I think Hiroshima/Nagasaki had just a single poster sized mention and the photos were very sanitized. Museum staff are so-so: the lady at the front desk is a bit of a jobsworth and wouldn't give me the Union member discount for labor day because I didn't have a union ID (my union doesn't give me one!), but I did get a student discount that helped a bit. Overall, the museum is alright. It's not worth the high non-discounted entrance fee, but then hey, it's vegas, they've got enough guests who are stupid with their money... read more

Super fun many interesting objects and lots of interesting knowledge that I picked up at this place the Area 51 portion was pretty cool as well it was a little cheesy but it was still interesting. Definitely recommend if your avoiding the strip and want something to do. read more

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I really wasn't particularly impressed. I just didn't feel like there was very much here that I couldn't learn from a 20 page booklet. Lots and lots of things to read, not nearly enough firsthand experience type of exhibits. There were a few things about troops in the bunkers during a test, but it was only a 1-minute story that probably could have shared more interesting details than they did. It also felt quite a bit like propaganda. Based on the exhibits there, nuclear everything seems like an obvious choice with no potential for risk. Drop nuclear bombs - you win the war. Fallout??? Not really brought up. Chernobyl? Mentioned, but only very briefly. The $12 seemed a bit much for how little was actually here, but considering that the time we spent here probably saved us $100 at the tables, it's a bargain?? read more

One of Vegas's best-kept secrets and a place that highlights one of the most interesting facets of Vegas's past. Highly recommended detour for those on the Strip but who are looking for an experience with a little more substance. read more

Expensive for the admission price. When I went there, there were very few tourists inside, which was good since the museum is small. Can't imagine going in there when its crowded. Sparse artifacts. What they mostly had were toy scale models & reconstructed items. Majority were posters with detailed text narratives. But honestly, the format would be better served through designing a web page and just letting people read it at ease from their home. Film loops were interesting , but again, much of the footage is stuff you can find online since they are in the public domain. Most disappointing was the gift shop. Had very little in there & mostly just overpriced junk. I was hoping to find one of those nuclear powered keychain lights you can buy online from scientific shops, but they didn't have any. Sheesh, thought they would've had that as it fits the theme.. read more

Really interesting; great introduction to the fundamentals of nuclear physics, atomic testing, and the process of designing and testing various devices. Minus one star because I didn't think it adequately addressed the ethics of using nuclear weapons in war. read more

Best museum when it comes to Atomic. Been here so many times. They also have an Area 51 museum. It's smaller. Also if you don't mind waiting about a year you can reserve for a special Tour outside of Vegas. read more

Great little museum about the atomic era and las vegas. I've since been here white a few times learning about the history and destruction of nuclear power and weapons weapons from Hiroshima to Nagasaki and throughout the cold war. I remember coming here on a field trip in elementary school and remember what I had seen. A great reminder of our past and present and what could happen in the future. read more

Me and my wife went here around a year and a half ago. The atomic part was all very fascinating and cool, but the reason I wanted to go was the area 51 exhibit that I heard was so awesome! I had enjoyed it so much I brought a friend here this time to show her how great it was and I was sorely disappointed. Firstly when we signed in, it wasn't mentioned to us that locals receive discounted ticket prices which I didn't find out until after the ticket purchases. We walked the atomic museum, enjoying all the fun facts and displays and such, but then it came time for the reason we came... the area 51 part. We had allotted ourselves a couple hours so we could thoroughly read and examine everything. They have removed the exhibit. It is now just a big theatre with a few terribly put together trinkets on the side. It used to be filled with fun facts, incidents, interesting tidbits, a "maze" sort of feel in dimly lit walkways that all led to a fun and out of this world experience. Now they have alien trinkets that are for sale in their gift shop on display in a glass case. They used to have a supposed actual piece of ufo wreckage which to me was beyond cool. I was disappointed, as was my friend. I wish they still had this area, I wish so badly they would rebuild it. It was one of the greatest displays I've seen in vegas and I've seen just about everything. 2 stars :( read more

Great mesueum. Loved reading about the Nevada Test Site. Only reason gave 4 of 5 stars was because we purchased tickets on Groupon which were to include the Area 51 but it's closed for renovations. Last week living in Vegas and I won't be able check it out when it opens in April. read more