The Nevada State Museum, in partnership with Springs Preserve; the Clark County Museum; and the City of Las Vegas, is pleased to present "Desert Peoples: Words from Ancestors." This exhibition features a rare early 19th-century handwritten journal containing translations from Southern Paiute (Nuwu) into English, preserving words and meanings that had, in some cases, been forgotten over time.
Accompanying this first-time display of the journal is a selection of Paiute and Mojava material culture, including objects referenced within the document itself, offering a tangible connection between language and memory. Together, these works illuminate the enduring presence and cultural continuity of indigenous peoples across the desert Southwest.
The exhibition opens Aug. 13 and remains on view through Nov. 19, 2026.
The event is free and open to the public.