RonnieAdventure #0061 - Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Clark County, Nevada

I had planned to have a RonnieAdventure in Arizona this week; but when I turned on the TV and the weatherman said that it was going to be 111 degrees with 95% humidity, I decided that an indoor activity may be more appropriate. The Nevada State Museum seemed like a great choice because I had never been to the new museum building and I also had two free passes.

The museum contains a variety of fossils that range from a Mammoth to an Ichthyosaur, the latter being the Nevada State Fossil. There is also a nice display of First American artifacts and a tribute to early pioneers that settled Nevada.

A portion of the museum is also reserved for temporary exhibits, which is currently featuring Family Flowers, traditional embroidery from southern Mexico by Romeo Siguenza Hidalgo. The exhibit tells a story of how traditional arts are maintained and passed down in families from one generation to the next. On display are numerous dresses and other finely embroidered articles, including a huipil (worn as a blouse or tunic) that Romeo made for his daughter. The huipil is worn for protection and, according to a legend, the person who puts it on will wear a garment that is almost magical. The birds on the chest and back are to protect the woman, her spirit, and her soul. The exhibit goes on to say that "the flower is life, and life is strength and power. Our people believe that through flowers you receive the sun's energy. The flower takes it from the sun and the person takes it from the flower."