Liberace Museum
No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a visit to the Liberace Museum, home to the world’s largest Rhinestone! The museum has just gone through a major renovation and was rededicated in May of 2002. The improvements include the fabulous new facade and entrance pictured above. The exhibit areas have been updated and rearranged and the costumes and capes will be rotated periodically. The gift shop has been greatly expanded with lots of new Liberace goodies, a new cafe area has also been added just in case you feel faint from the sight of those diamonds.
What most people remember about Liberace is not his piano-playing but his love of rhinestones, his garishly outlandish stage costumes, and his undeclared homosexuality, which remains undeclared here. Liberace “wanted the museum dedicated to his career,” our tour guide explained. “He liked to be quiet.”
Liberace Museum is essentially two museums in one: a piano and car museum and in addition to that a Jewelry collection. There are other attractions that chronicle some Las Vegas history as seen through the eyes of the Liberace era and a re-creation of Liberace’s Palm Springs bedroom.
This is perhaps the most eclectic collection of memorabilia ever assembled. From pianos and candelabras to costumes, jewelry, furniture and cars, these buildings house a collection that exudes the outrageous style of “Mr. Showmanship” himself. All monies raised by the museum and gift shop go directly to the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts.
Admission is $15.00 for Adults and $10.00 for Senior Citizens or students with a school I.D. There is no charge for young children but they do require the accompaniment of an adult at all times. If you’re lucky enough to be a resident of Nevada, free admission is offered on the second Sunday of the month. The museum also offers a discount of $2.00 with proof of taxi or bus receipt.
Frommer’s Review
Forget all that stuff we said before about the great museums of the world. You can keep your Louvres and Vaticans and Smithsonians: This is a museum. Housed in a strip mall, this is a shrine to the glory and excess that was the art project known as Liberace. You’ve got your costumes (bejeweled), your many cars (bejeweled), your many pianos (bejeweled), and many jewels (also bejeweled).
Building Two sports a huge glass “rhinestone” topped with a neon piano and has a display of jewelry and costumes, including Liberace’s infamous hot pants and his 200-pound “King Neptune” outfit. It’s the one encrusted with seashells and pearls.
Liberace Museum Details
Hours of operation: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, noon - 4 p.m. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older and students 6 and older, children 5 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Special group rates available to parties of 25 or more.
Payment options: Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
