Reno, Nevada - Museum with Elephant Leg Ashtrays

As far as little museums go, the Wilbur D. May Museum's a gem! May was a Nevada rancher, as well as a world traveller and big game hunter before it was un-P.C. The trophy room in the place is the most ghoulish/cool thing you've seen in years. Along the back wall are a large number of mounted animal heads, and everything in the room is made of some sort of animal part. Elephant leg ashtrays, tables with horns for legs, skin lampshades, etc. There's also a wonderful mural that segues into a real tree branch where a leopard sits, a disembodied giraffe head that peeks over one of the display cases, as well as African baskets, Chinese snuff boxes, swords, and trinkets galore that he collected on his travels around the world. Numerous black and white photos document his adventures. One thing to look out for that only a handful of locals know is in the Dik Dik display case. Apparently, before the museum opened, two artists were hired to paint all the backdrops in the display cases. One night, after painting the Dik Dik background, they had a few too many beers and decided to paint a fighter jet in the sky. You have to put your face to the glass and look up hard to your left to see it. Another thing I like about this museum is the sound effects and jungle music playing in the background.

Out behind the place is The Great Basin Adventure, a cool place for kids or kids at heart. It includes a 3-story mine shaft with mining displays, and slides that connect the three levels. You can also climb on a big dinosaur, pan for gold, pet the animals at the petting zoo, and ride the log flume ride! It's by far one of the best small museums I've ever been to. [Christine L. Tuohy, 06/26/2005]