Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum & Visitor Center

This 2013 article was first published in Nevada Magazine and is used here with their permission.

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center Director Shannon Mandell (above) poses inside the intriguing building, which houses a treasure trove of artifacts and history and is located in Nixon on State Route 447. The exterior (below) was designed by the late Native American architect Dennis Numkena to resemble a tepee.

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center beckons tourists:
On a rise, northwest of the intersection of State Routes 446 and 447 in the town of Nixon, NNevada is a beautiful conical shaped structure that is home to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center.

This is where you can find information about the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s history
and culture as well as the natural history of the area. The museum contains a gift shop, plus information on camping and fishing at Pyramid Lake as well as day-use permits.

Dennis Numkena (a member of the Hopi Nation) was the designer/architect. His goal was to establish a space that reflected a profound spiritual sense and represented something unique and beautiful. Visitors will be convinced that Numkena succeeded.

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 the center hosted a grand opening of several new exhibits that incorporated interactive kiosks, plus an intimate “cave” where viewers could watch recently produced films about the Paiute culture and the Pyramid Lake area. -Richard Massey

***