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    The Goldwell Open Air Museum

    4.6 (58 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Sculpture
    Valerie

    I randomly stumbled upon this place on my drive to the Tom Kelly Bottle House. It's located in Rhyolite and is a unique art project worth checking out! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be respectful of the art! This is such a cool spot that needs to be preserved. The museum accepts donations and has free pamphlets explaining all of the artwork. You are able to take photos/videos for personal use, but need permission from the museum for commercial use. Such a random museum in the middle of Nevada that you need to checkout if you're passing through!

    Renee N.

    I can't believe I never reviewed this museum. I was there so long ago but anyways here are some details. My husband woke me up for a surprise visit to Rhyolite Ghost Town, this museum and a quick drive thru of Death Valley on a Saturday morning. It takes a little over an hour and half to get here from Las Vegas on US 95 North. The museum is free and open This museum consists of seven large scale sculptures and installations. It was created in 1984 by a group of artists. This includes the work of the late Albert Szukalski's - The Last Supper. The Last Supper is almost haunting the way the figures are posed. There have been six additional pieces added from Belgian artists since the creation of this museum. All the sculptures are very unique and interesting standing out here in the harsh desert of Amargosa Valley. They are well preserved even with the elements striking them all year long. Some of the older sculptures include Ghost Rider - 1984, Lady Desert the Venus of Nevada - 1992, Tribute to Shorty Harris 1994, Serving Ghost 1984, Medicine Wheel which is a labyrinth. Since I have been there, other permanent sculptures and installations have been added so I guess a return trip is in order. Only in Nevada do we have these unusual places to visit! Check it out!

    08.30.24 the labyrinth is still intact since our last visit in 2013
    May A.

    Middle of nowhere outdoor museum [Beatty NV] We took a little detour on our way to Las Vegas to revisit the ruins of the Rhyolite Ghost Town. If there's one place Nevada stands out are the very cool and accessible ghost towns. Our first time here was 11 years ago in 2013. The open air art gallery is a nonprofit organization located just below the remains of Rhyolite and is free to visit. Seemed like such a weird location to find giant sculptures but It was a perfect place at the same time with no distractions. The small old building stood in the middle and was open at that time we first came here but this last visit the museum was closed. The sculptures are still well preserved. A group of prominent Belgian artists, led by the late Albert Szukalski, created the outdoor sculptures. Today, there are seven outdoor sculptures (about a dozen total art installations) around the museum including the famous ghostly life-sized figures called "The Last Supper" and the ghost with the bike called "Ghost Rider.". Also, the circular labyrinth is still intact. Review #3528

    Fred T.

    This open are art museum is right next to the disappointing (for me at least) Rhyolyte ghost town. It feathers several outdoor installations that are juxtaposed against the starkness of the desert. I found them to be quirky and interesting and it made for good photography. The small office was closed but you can wander to your hearts content. It is really hot however, in direct sun most of the time with little shade and aside from the close town of Beatty, there are no services here.

    Tommy J.

    Free open air museum. It's a nonprofit organization and some interesting art? Ghostly statues depicting the last supper... it's something interesting to look at to pass the time. It is worth a stop and look at if you're heading to Rhyolite...

    Rhonda W.

    small open air art museum/ art installation in the desert. Free but accepts donations. There are sculptures and ghost town and house made from glass bottles all in this area. We flew into Vegas and were driving to Lake Tahoe which is a long drive but googled what there was to do along the way and this caught my eye. The white sculptures were so haunting ... somewhere between creepy, interesting and beautiful. They don't mind you getting close even touching or posing inside the sculptures ... which i was surprised. I would figure there would be signs up saying to not touch the art for fear of damaging it. The surrounding mountains and desert were lovely backdrop ... and close by wild donkeys roomed around ... so cute wish Id had food to offer them.

    Ghost Rider (1984) by Charles Albert Szukalski
    Lynda B.

    Just outside Beatty, NV is a unique, creative place that is a MUST see if you are visiting or passing through - just make a point of coming to see The Goldwell Open Air Museum. Open 24/7 and FREE this self-guided outdoor art exhibit will have you frolicking about the hillside as you hop from one piece to the next. Off the beaten path is exactly what this 15-acre site was dreaming of when they placed these larger than life art pieces here. We had the best time capturing our photop moments with Charles Albert Szukalski pieces The Last Supper and Ghost Rider, 25 foot Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada made of cinder blocks, 24 foot miner & penguin (waddle-waddle) anddd lounging on Sit Here! the mosiac tile couch absolutely exquiste and unique little things we found laid permenantely in it to include Mickey Mouse lol Definitely a FUN, playful stop that is a MUST! Enjoy the beautiful art pieces and get some unique photographs.

    Jeremy J.

    This was an awesome open air museum that my wife and I got to experience while we were in the area. I didn't really know what to expect. I just know it was hot and sandy in the middle of nowhere desert. And came across all these cool statues in public are displays and it was awesome.

    Jo S.

    If you visit Rhyolite and see some beautiful sculptures in the desert near by, wonder no more! It's the Goldwell Open Air Museum! Check it out! It's open 24 hours, 7 days a week and it has a small parking lot. Free to visit, pick up a pamphlet for a self guided tour! Check their site for more info! The Visitor center is closed due to Covid! I love art and art installation in the desert and I was eager to check it out and visit it! The sculptures are big, beautiful unique. You see a modern, creepy version of "The Last Supper" by Belgian Artist Albert Szukalski (who also created "The Ghost Rider", a "Venus of Nevada" by Hugo Heyrman with the Amargosa Valley as a background. Places like these are unique and we need to cherish them. Creative people with cool ideas turned empty, remote areas like this one into a cool destination. If you visit Beatty and/or Death Valley, make Goldwell Open Air Museum a stop on the itinerary alongside Rhyolite! Breathtaking vistas and art, a match made in heaven!

    The photographer and volunteer

    OMG! This is the most amazing place. This was the first time we have been there but it won't be the last. We so enjoyed looking at all the displays. Be sure to go inside the information building. There are pictures for sale that were taken by local resident ( that is also the volunteer) at the museum. They are magnificent we bought 2 .

    Stefany V.

    Shout out to Yelp Elite Extraordinaire, Terri C., whose review and photos are what prompted me to plan a trip out here. We loaded up on audiobooks and podcasts for the roughly three-hour round trip drive from Vegas, and this museum was the highlight. This museum on it's own isn't likely to take more than half an hour to tour, so stop by the nearby Ghost Town up the road (separate review). First, stop by the museum store. Even if it's not open, grab a brochure from the mailbox by the door to guide your visit with more info about each work. If you decide to take photos with the art, be respectful of the piece and do not touch it, try to finish quickly if others are waiting, and move aside so you're not in other visitors' photos. Would love to see them expand and add other works here.

    Eric B.

    If you're going to visit a Ghost Town (Rhyolite), why not have a Ghost Museum just before city limits? The ghostly creations contrast well with the barren high desert, and it's easy to wander around and admire the various sculptures. One even has a passing resemblance to The Big Cheeto.

    Kat B.

    Fun little place in the middle of nowhere. I was entertained and really enjoyed the exhibit. If you're going to the ghost town, stop here too and make a friendly donation also!

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    Had a wonderful time observing this area. I wish I would not have waited so long to visit this area. Such a peaceful day!

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    Ask the Community - The Goldwell Open Air Museum

    Review Highlights - The Goldwell Open Air Museum

    Another "Weird Las Vegas and Nevada" book discovery I've made, the "museum" is about an hour and a half north of Vegas.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Rhyolite Ghost Town - 08.30.24 Old Rhyolite trail car at the Rhyolite Train Depot

    Rhyolite Ghost Town

    4.3(100 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    This is such a cool stop if you're passing through Nevada! The historic town of Rhyolite is only 10…read moreminutes from the town of Beatty and about 1hr 40min from Vegas. I love history like this so I was super excited. I came here for the Tom Kelly Glass House. When you first walk up, there is a sign explaining the history of the house. Next to it, there is a sign in sheet so you can see where people have travelled from to checkout the house. I was amazed by how many people had recently been there! It's a short stop, just walk up and take a few pictures of the house. Look inside. Take in the history. I would definitely recommend adding this stop to your trip if you're passing through! Ohhh also, the Goldwell Museum is only a minute drive from the Tom Kelly Bottle House. Check out that place too and be respectful of the artwork!

    Great stop on our way to Death Valley National Park. I always look for ghost towns whenever we…read morevisit a new place, and Rhyolite is one of the best preserved I've seen. Really interesting history here - Rhyolite was a gold rush town and is a perfect example of "Boom to Bust". One of the town's multi-story buildings cost $90,000 to build back in the early 1900's, so you can imagine how magnificent it must have been. Unfortunately, the town of Rhyolite only lasted 15 years before it was completely abandoned. I really liked viewing the buildings and reading the signs accompanying each one. The Tom Kelly bottle house was particularly fascinating. Wish it was open to go inside, but I did peek in the windows. Keep in mind that all of the buildings are fenced off s you can just view them from the outside, but Rhyolite is worth 5 stars as the buildings are mostly still standing and it is definitely a good stop while in the area.

    Photos
    Rhyolite Ghost Town - 08.30.24 Overbury Building was abandoned by 1910 and mostly dismantled by 1924

    08.30.24 Overbury Building was abandoned by 1910 and mostly dismantled by 1924

    Rhyolite Ghost Town - Rhyolite Ghost Town

    Rhyolite Ghost Town

    Rhyolite Ghost Town - 08.30.24 In the 1930s, the old depot became a casino and bar...

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    08.30.24 In the 1930s, the old depot became a casino and bar...

    City of Beatty

    City of Beatty

    4.8(5 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    Small desert town in Nevada, cute, quiet, with charm, fun to spend a few nights in while visiting…read moreDeath Valley National park. Pleasant weather in December when we visited, but it gets cool at night and in the morning. Not recommended to visit during summer months when it gets too hot! Too bad I didn't get to visit the museum since they close at 3 pm! Not enough time. I would have loved to find out more about its mining history. I did check out Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Art Museum that are right before you enter Beatty and I would strongly recommend you to visit them! The Death Valley Fruit and Nuts store should be a must visit- delicious desserts and cheap gas! A few small restaurants where you can dine in -Sourdough Saloon was a favorite and other quirky local bars. A few motels around where you can stay while visiting Death Valley. We liked El Portal! We were able to walk to some restaurants from our motel, otherwise, a short drive to everything! The town is small, has some character, I wish I had more time to explore it. A couple of gas stations, stores, no major supermarket, a library, quirky locals, nice for a few days! It's in the desert, right past the border from California via Death Valley National Park. Great location since you can find cheaper accommodation and eateries in Beatty, wonderful home base, entry for the park. No burro-s in sight for us, sigh!

    So much history in one place. Park at the Visitors Center and walk around. Lots of photo ops…read more Check out the old hotel.

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    City of Beatty
    City of Beatty
    City of Beatty

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    The Goldwell Open Air Museum - walkingtours - Updated September 2026

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