Nevada State Railroad Museum

Set amid the deep terracotta canyons of Nevad mining country, Boulder City brings back memories of a once desolate Las Vegas, before the arrival of connective interstate routes and touristic excess. Rustic, quaint and dulled by the dust of the Mojave Desert, its the perfect setting for one of Nevada's best loved state treasures – the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Located at the confluence of the archaic Boulder Branch Line, Nevada State Railroad Museum is the only attraction of its kind dedicated to the preservation of Nevada's most historic route. Commissioned in 1931, the Boulder Branch Line was developed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, its primary purpose the transportation of haulage and building materials for the nearby Hoover Dam. From 1936, the route also served as a passenger line, transporting natives from Boulder City to the cross-state mining town of Henderson. Last of the network South-Eastern routes, Nevada Southern Railway takes visitors on a journey back through time in some of the finest carriages ever to have been pulled on the Boulder Branch Line.

Commencing at the immaculately preserved Boulder City Station, take your choice of comfortable carriage space within either a 1911 air-conditioned Pullman (once reserved for first class passengers) or an open-air carriage for uninterrupted views of the sandscapes to and El Dorado Valley to follow. It really doesn't matter which side you sit, since the glassless windows allow for easy snapping opportunities throughout. Encompassing just over 6 miles in 45 minutes, the Boulder Branch Line takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Nevada, including the River and McCullough Mountains, along with the great Hoover Dam itself. Sand dunes reach dizzying heights along the route, however the real thrill is when your NSR train makes the climb along the edge of the precipitous River Mountain peaks.

As the NSR embarks on its return journey, keep your eyes peeled for the famous Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, once frequented by the very workers that built Hoover Dam. Back in the 1930's, it was little more than a barn building, air conditioned with damp sheets hung from the ceiling and only accessible to those that knew the password – gaiety. For many years Railroad Pass operated beyond the confines of the law, serving alcohol during times of prohibition and encouraging punters to partake in “under counter” games of poker – illegal until the close of 1931 and illegal from then onward without a gambling license. It seems that business must have been booming, for the owners of the Railroad Pass gave in by 1932. The hotel now boasts the longest held gambling license in Nevada!

Back on terra firma, be sure to check in at the Boulder City Boneyard prior to leaving the station. Just a short ride from the station aboard the “Old 97” locomotive, it remains one of the largest well-preserved train collections in Nevada and yet another aspect of the Silver State's multifaceted character well worth exploring.