Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
adults, $ 8.50 seniors, free 10 and under; if you take a bus or taxi save the receipt
and the museum will refund you $ 2; Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-4pm; AE,
DISC, MC, V) continues to chug along, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
They come here to ooh and ahh over his flamboyant costumes, those mirrored
pianos, his fleet of Rolls Royces and they leave . . . well, with an appreciation for
the sweet-tempered, mother-loving, flamboyant dude himself. Beyond all of the
froufrou and the pounds of rhinestones, what makes this museum so charming, is
the genuine affection it inspires for this “kitsch pianist.” In that way, it reminded
me of the Louis Armstrong Museum in Queens, New York, where it was pretty
obvious that the staff and guides felt that Satchmo was one of the finest fellows to
have ever walked this “wonderful world.” After one of the three-times weekly con-
certs by Liberace sound-alike Wes Waters (recommended), a volunteer commented
to a leaving visitor “I know you enjoyed it [the museum and show]. There's no way
you could not have enjoyed it.” All proceeds from the museum go to support the
Liberace Foundation, which sponsors dozens of college scholarships each year for
students in the performing and creative arts.
Beyond the love fest you'll get from the guides and volunteers, there's a lot
that's genuinely interesting to see here. Building One is for the big stuff—cars,
pianos, and the story of Liberace's life. Start your tour here, wandering among 18
of the 39 pianos Liberace owned in the course of his lifetime, historic beauts from
Chopin's own French Pleyel, to a Chickering baby grand that belonged to George
Gershwin to a 1788 Broadwood piano, one of the oldest in existence (it predates
an identical one that's displayed in New York's Metropolitan Museum). His wacky
car collection is next, featuring a star-spangled Rolls Royce and a rare Phantom V
Landau Rolls Royce (one of only seven manufactured; the British Royal Family
owned another, though I doubt they covered theirs with etched mirrored tiles as
he did). His personal ride was just as outré: a 1957 English Taxicab that he liked
to tool around in, picking up buddies.
Building Two ups the glitz factor even higher, as this is where his costumes and
historic furniture are displayed. Because of their weight, costumes rotate in and
out of the exhibit, but you'll possibly see a 1975 stunner covered with hundreds
of black Swarovski crystals; their purchase and the cost of sewing them all on cost
the pianist $750,000. It glittered so intensely the seamstresses who worked on it
wore sunglasses. It may be near his 24 karat gold costume, or his famous hot
pants. Each outfit has a story, so if you don't take a tour, enlist the aid of one of
the docents to fill you in on their backgrounds. Among the historic furniture and
flatware on display, the highlights are a desk once owned by Czar Nicholas II,
where, legend has it the Russo Franco Peace Treaty was signed; and a set of dishes
that are the double of those used at Windsor Castle by the royal family (this is the
only other one in circulation).
Transportation note: Tuesdays through Sundays, the museum provides a free
shuttle from the Strip to the museum and back. Paris, Flamingo, Riviera, Fashion
Show Mall, and Tropicana are all on the route; for specific pick-up and drop-off
times, call % 702/335-3530 or go to the museum's website (see above).
If expense and technological savoir faire were enough to make a top attraction,
the Fremont Street Experience 55 (Fremont St., between Las Vegas Blvd. and
Main St.; www.vegasexperience.com; free admission; nightly shows every hour
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