Last updated: 8/31/2023
Wilbur D. May Museum
Reno, Nevada
Address
1595 N. Sierra Street
Reno, NV 89503
phone: 775-785-5961
e-mail: wjahn@washoecounty.gov

Hours

Wednesday - Saturday
10 AM - 4 PM
Monday - Tuesday
closed
Sunday
12 PM - 4 PM

Admissions

Adults: $7
Seniors: $5
Children (3-17): $4
Children under 3: Free

Staff

Kristy Lide, Curator
phone: 775-785-5961
Wes Jahn, Assistant Curator
phone: 775-785-5961
Description
Wilbur D. May Museum

The museum houses the lifetime collection of the late Wilbur May -- department store magnate, Reno rancher, big-game hunter, businessman, philanthropist, and world traveler. May made over 40 trips around the world amassing an amazing collection of artifacts including Tang Dynasty pottery, Greek and Roman icons, weapons, and African tribal items. The collection also features a shrunken human head from South America and over 200 pieces of taxidermy.

Artifact Collections

We are the only museum in Nevada where you will see:

Antique firearms
European glasswork
African tribal masks
Polynesian carvings
Chinese pottery
Taxidermy
Saddlery and Western Ranching artifacts
and more!
Educational Programs

The Museum also hosts traveling exhibitions, special programs, and events year-round.

Facilities
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Services
Love our Gardens!! Why not have your next special event in our Garden!!

When not currently featuring a rotating exhibit, we rent out our museum as an event space so that you too can enjoy all that the museum has to offer for your special event. Whether it be a wedding, fundraiser, business meeting, etc., we offer affordable rates and accommodations for our beautiful garden court.

Group Tours

We offer a one-hour tour through the amazing collection of Wilbur D. May. Our visitors begin with a short introduction and film about the life of Mr. May and the items housed in the museum, followed by a guided walk through the museum itself. We offer a scavenger hunt that is a fun way to learn more about the collection and to test people's detective skills! The tour combines local and world history along with natural history and is appropriate for all ages.

Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
Exhibitions
Tuesday, January 2 - Sunday, March 31, 2024
Special Exhibits from January to April
Special Exhibits
Every year from January to April we offer a large scale rotating exhibit that offers double the normal museum experience. Past rotating exhibits have included dinosaurs, dragons, and the history of candy! Admission includes entrance to the special exhibit AND entrance to our permanent collection.
See website

For more information, please call 775-785-5961.

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2023 Annual Meeting

October 5 - 8, 2023

Pasedena, California

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2023 Annual Meeting

Thursday, October 5 - Sunday, October 8, 2023

Hilton Pasadena

Pasedena, California

Hosted by: Western Museums Association

The Western Museums Association’s (WMA) Annual Meeting is known as a premier venue for those who work in the museum industry to exchange ideas and best practices, network with colleagues, and learn from each other by attending valuable sessions. Attendees come away inspired and energized about their profession. Upon returning home, they seek out opportunities to grow and further the creative culture that is the foundation of our society

WMA warmly invites you to the 2023 Annual Meeting in Pasadena, California, on October 5-8. Pasadena, once occupied by the Native American Hahamog-na Tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation, is situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, just Northeast of downtown Los Angele

With the theme of CONNECT, WMA 2023 will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in a unique slate of educational programming, CONNECT with colleagues, and explore ideas that will help define the future of museums and the diverse communities they serve. Six session tracks, exciting programs, and informal discussions will provide a fruitful environment for various perspectives to be shared and multifaceted learning opportunities for all cultural institution professionals, regardless of specialty

NOTE: Exhibit Space is SoldOUT

For more information, please call 707-433-4701 or email wma@westmuse.org.

New England Museum Association 2023 Conference

November 8 - 10, 2023

Portland, Maine

New England Museum Association 2023 Conference

Wednesday, November 8 - Friday, November 10, 2023

Holiday Inn by the Bay

Portland, Maine

Hosted by: New England Museum Association

Engage! Moving from Inspiration to Actio

Join us for a 3-day adventure of learning, growing, and professional friendships in beautiful Portland, Maine.

Take advantage of the country’s largest regional gathering of museum professionals, with 100+ professional development sessions, lively discussions, and tons of networking opportunities that challenge your intellect and boost your museum passion.

Whether you’re new to museums or a seasoned pro, the NEMA Conference is the place to be.

Small Museum Association 2023 Conference

February 19 - 21, 2024

Richmond, Virginia

Small Museum Association 2023 Conference

Monday, February 19 - Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Omni Richmond Hotel

Richmond, Virginia

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

TELLING TOUGH STORIES: The stories that museums tell aren't always cut and dry. History museums have to confront contentious and politically divisive topics. Science and technology museums must explain complex concepts in layman's terms. What are the best ways to approach tough stories? And how can we do so clearly, concisely, and fairly

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues. We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Registration: Find out more about registration rates and register online. Super early bird registration ends August 31st. Lock in the cheapest rates today!

For more information, please email conference@smallmuseum.org.

2024 California Association of Museums Conference Announced

March 10 - 14, 2024

Location TBD

2024 California Association of Museums Conference Announced

Sunday, March 10 - Thursday, March 14, 2024

Location TBD

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is planning for 2024! We are excited to share that CAM's 2024 Annual Conference will take place in Long Beach, California from March 10-14, 2024. Stay tuned for more developments in the coming months! Monitor this space for announcements about the Call for Proposals, Advertising & Sponsorship opportunities, Scholarships, Volunteering, and more.

Conference registration will be announced at a later date. CAM will have an online Early Bird pricing registration period, an online Regular Rate pricing registration period, and an onsite Regular Rate registration period

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2024. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event, and we encourage you to explore the local Long Beach outdoor areas, harbor breezes, and nearby spaces and sights for your lunches and breaks when possible.

For more information, please call !!!.

view all conferences
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