The next time your luck turns bad in Las Vegas, consider a healthy cathartic field trip to the Atomic Testing Museum.

Located just a few miles from the strip, this oddball museum celebrates the nuclear bomb testing that used to be held in the desert just 64 miles northwest of the casinos--close enough that gamblers could occasionally witness mushroom clouds rising in the distance. Yikes!

Today, visitors can pay homage to the area's nuclear past with a visit to the museum for just $12. According to the website, the museum features "first-person narratives, large iconic artifacts, environmental re-creations, theatrical devices, and interactive elements for personal exploration."

Not planning to be in Vegas any time soon? You can take the virtual tour here. For something really scary, roll your mouse across the Geiger counter collection. Personally, there is no scarier sound than this!

(via National Geographic Traveler)

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History