Three million dollars worth of Elvis memorabilia -- we thought surely this place would give our beloved Liberace museum a run for its top spot in our camp-lovin' hearts. But alas, while this is a must for the Elvis faithful (and admittedly, they are legion) looking to view holy relics, it's not the place for a novice to start.
The amount of cool stuff is amazing: Elvis ephemera ranging from his Social Security card (a $14,000 auction purchase) to his "little black book" (entries not divulged, darn it!), his Army uniform, a love letter to his hometown girlfriend, fan-club souvenirs (Elvis lipstick!), and on and on it goes. But alas, these precious (and discarded) possessions are exhibited in cases that, as of this writing, are lacking much-needed labels and identification, so all too often you have no idea what you're looking at, much less its significance. The displays also don't precisely give you a good view of the King's life; it assumes you already know the highlights (Momma's boy, the Colonel, 'Scilla), and it's hardly complete. Despite our morbid hopes for prescription-pill bottles, there was nary a mention of Dr. Nick nor even The Death. There is, however, a whole case displaying what amounts to the contents of Vernon Presley's wallet. It's also all a little too straight-faced and reverent, though the gift shop makes up for it a bit. And they do have various Elvis impersonator shows, ranging in price from around $15 to $20. All in all, best for fans thinking, "You know, I really should brush up on my Elvis-iania."
3401 Industrial Rd.Phone: 702/309-7200.Open: Daily 10am-6pm.Admission $9.95 adults, $7.95 seniors, students with ID, and Nevada residents; free for kids under 12.Call for free shuttle bus.