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Liberace Museum Collection
Liberace Museum Collection
Liberace Museum Collection
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The Liberace Museum Collection is a private museum collection that includes many stage costumes, cars, jewelry, lavishly decorated pianos and numerous citations for philanthropic acts that belonged to the American entertainer and pianist Wladziu Valentino Liberace, better known as Liberace.

Key Information

Originally exhibited in the former Liberace Museum located in Paradise, Nevada, the Liberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts later housed the primary collection of Liberace's outfits at Thriller Villa, the former Las Vegas home of Michael Jackson, and displayed Liberace’s automobiles, related artifacts and occasional special exhibits at the Liberace Garage in Las Vegas. Liberace Garage doubled its square footage to approximately 10,000 in 2020, now facilitating storage of the entire Liberace Museum Collection, as well as exhibit space.

History

[edit]
Liberace Plaza and Museum roadside sign (2003)

The Liberace Foundation for Creative and Performing Arts was founded in 1976; Liberace endowed the foundation with its collection along with $4 million in cash. He stated his hope for the foundation to return his good fortune to musicians starting on their careers.[1] The foundation acquired the entire shopping plaza on the southwest corner of Tropicana and Spencer, which would later be renamed the Liberace Plaza. The plaza contained both the museum and Tivoli Gardens, a restaurant designed and operated by Liberace.[2][3]

Liberace himself opened the Liberace Museum on April 15, 1979, in Paradise, Nevada, a census-designated place in the Las Vegas Valley.[4] Admission to the museum cost $3.50.[5] His brother George became the director and later George's wife, Dora, assumed that role. The museum had several buildings showcasing Liberace's unique costumes, pianos, cars, jewelry and artifacts. At its peak, the museum attracted 450,000 visitors per year,[2] and was the third most-visited tourist attraction in Nevada, after the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam.[4][6]

The museum was expanded in 1988, tripling its size by expanding into the office, library, and apartment spaces in the plaza.[6][7] The collection was housed in three buildings: the main building, displaying most of the pianos and automobiles; the annex, with Liberace's bedroom (recreated from his Palm Springs house), jewelry, personal items, a mirrored Baldwin grand, and his on-stage capes and costumes, many designed by Michael Travis; and the library, containing Liberace's musical arrangements, his archives, and a tribute to his family.[8][9][10]

The annual Liberace "Play-A-Like" Competition was started by the foundation in 1993 to mark Liberace's birthday;[11] competitors were expected to embody "Liberace's joyful spirit of showmanship and entertainment ability" through their choice of music and costume. The competition was held at the Liberace Museum. It was expanded in 2006 as the Liberace Piano Competition to encompass traditional performances, and the young musicians could choose to play either a traditional Steinway grand or Liberace's rhinestone-studded Baldwin grand.[12] By 2008, the competition had outgrown the space at the museum and the finals were held at the Community Lutheran Church.[13]

In 1995, 18 pianos were on display, including historically significant instruments that had previously been played by Frédéric Chopin (finished in green-and-gold, built by Ignaz Pleyel in the early 1800s),[10] Robert Schumann (built by Bösendorfer), and George Gershwin (built by Chickering & Sons), as well as an early piano designed by John Broadwood dated to 1788.[4] The rhinestone-decorated Baldwin grand that Liberace had debuted for his sold-out Radio City Music Hall concerts in 1986 was also on display.[14] Admission fees had risen modestly to $6.50 for adults.[4]

  • Liberace Museum, Las Vegas (2003)
    Liberace Museum, Las Vegas (2003)
  • Neon-lit signs for the Liberace Museum and associated restaurant Tivoli Gardens. Both were operated by Liberace; the museum closed in 2010, and the restaurant moved shortly thereafter.
    Neon-lit signs for the Liberace Museum and associated restaurant Tivoli Gardens. Both were operated by Liberace; the museum closed in 2010, and the restaurant moved shortly thereafter.
  • Exterior "Wall of Music" decoration (c. 2000s)
    Exterior "Wall of Music" decoration (c. 2000s)
  • Museum annex interior with mirrored Baldwin (2007)
    Museum annex interior with mirrored Baldwin (2007)
  • Liberace's costumes (2007)
    Liberace's costumes (2007)
  • Rhinestone Baldwin and candelabra, by Carol Highsmith
    Rhinestone Baldwin and candelabra, by Carol Highsmith
  • Mirrored upright piano (2009)
    Mirrored upright piano (2009)
  • Sign at the Neon Museum boneyard (2019)
    Sign at the Neon Museum boneyard (2019)

All the proceeds of the museum benefited the Liberace Foundation, which provided 2,700 scholarships to college and graduate students totaling more than $6 million.[15][16] In 2000, the Foundation took out a $2 million loan to renovate the plaza and museum;[2] the renovation added 6,000 square feet (560 m2) to the museum to accommodate traveling exhibits, bringing the total size to 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2). It also added the round glass entrance and neon signs, cafe, and a Walk of Honors.[17] Siegfried and Roy hosted the grand re-opening ceremonies in 2002, which was also attended by Charo and Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt.[18]

Liberace exhibition at Cosmopolitan

The 30-year loan carried both a 9.5% interest rate and penalties for early repayment; expenses outpaced revenue for seven of the ten years between 1998 and 2008, driven by falling attendance (in 2002, attendance had dropped to a quarter of its peak at 100,000 per year, and by October 2010, just 36,000 had visited that year) and lost income from vacant storefronts in the Plaza. The reduced revenues would force the Foundation to subsidize museum operations from its dwindling endowment.[16][19][18][20][2] In 2008, the Foundation awarded a total of $112,000 in scholarships; that dropped to $62,000 in 2009.[21]

In January 2010, Jack Rappaport, the director of the museum, announced it would be moving to the Strip.[22] However, the Liberace Foundation announced it would close the museum in September[23] and on October 17, 2010, the Liberace Museum closed "indefinitely, but not forever" according to Liberace Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Jeffrey Koep.[24][25][26] Koep stated the museum would continue to exhibit costumes from the collection as a traveling show under the management of Exhibits Development Group after its closure.[19]

Present-day locations and exhibitions

[edit]
Map
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2km
1.2miles
3
2
1
Key locations of the Liberace Museum Collection
1
(former) Liberace Plaza, Museum and Restaurant; 1775 E Tropicana Ave
2
Thriller Villa, 2710 Palomino Ln
3
Hollywood Car Museum, 5115 Dean Martin Dr

The Liberace Foundation is still operating in Las Vegas and manages the collection. In November 2013, the Liberace Foundation exhibited a portion of Liberace's collection at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, in an exhibition titled "Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful: Liberace and the Art of Costume."[27] It featured 15 performance costumes, the rhinestone Baldwin piano, and a rhinestone-encrusted Excalibur kitcar. The exhibition closed in October 2014.

The sign for the Liberace Museum was restored and relit in 2014, featured at the Neon Museum boneyard.[28]

Thriller Villa

[edit]
Main article: Thriller Villa

The Liberace Foundation announced in 2015 that the Museum Collection is being housed inside one of Michael Jackson's former residences in Las Vegas, and features a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) exhibition space.[29][30] According to the Liberace Foundation's website, private showings can be arranged by appointment.[31] The building, now known as Thriller Villa, was originally built in 1952 and expanded in the 1990s as Hacienda Palomino by local theater developer Horst Schmidt; after Schmidt died, it was sold to Aner Iglesias, the honorary consul of El Salvador, in 2004.[32][33][34] Jackson rented the house from 2007 until his death in 2009.[35]

Liberace Garage

[edit]

As of April 7, 2016, a new commercial location has opened called, "The Liberace Garage" featuring all 8 vehicles from the Liberace Museum, housed in the Hollywood Cars Museum.[36] The space also features the rhinestone-encrusted Radio City Baldwin piano, and stage costumes worn by Liberace.[37][38]

For the 2019 Grammy Awards, Chloe Flower performed on the rhinestone Baldwin, flown to Los Angeles for the award ceremony, while backing Cardi B.[14]

Liberace vehicle collection
Year Make Model Image Notes
1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Replica, 3/4-scale
1931 Ford Model A Replica, used on stage at his Las Vegas Hilton residency in the 1970s.[39] Painted red.[40]
1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn convertible Custom painted in red, white, and blue; known as "Bicentennial" or "Stars and Stripes"
1957 Austin FX3 Liberace would pick up friends from the Palm Springs Airport in this customized London Taxi.[40][41]
1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Landau top; mirrored tiles applied by John Hancock, includes a full bar and mobile phone.[39]
196x Excalibur Roadster Rhinestone-encrusted kitcar, aka the "Rhinestone Roadster"; sometimes misattributed as a Duesenberg replica or as a "Mercedes Excalibur" and dated to 1934.[39][40][41]
1971 Volkswagen Beetle "VolksRolls" customized to look like a Rolls-Royce by George Barris; California vanity plate registration "VWRR JR".[41]
1972 Bradley GT Finished in gold metalflake[40] with silver candelabra emblems on the sides

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Liberace Museum Collection

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Liberace Museum Collection is a vast and opulent assemblage of personal artifacts belonging to the renowned American pianist and entertainer Władziu Valentino (1919–1987), renowned for its extravagant display of his flamboyant stage costumes, custom-designed pianos, luxury automobiles, jewelry, and decorative items that epitomize his signature blend of and showmanship. Spanning items from the through the late and comprising approximately 12,000 to 14,000 cubic feet of material, the collection serves as a tangible testament to Liberace's career as "Mr. Showmanship," including pieces used in his performances where he earned up to $300,000 per week in the 1970s. Established through the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, which founded in 1976 to support young musicians and preserve his legacy, the collection was first publicly showcased at the Liberace Museum in , which opened on April 15, 1979, on Tropicana Avenue and attracted over two million visitors before closing in October 2010 due to financial challenges. The museum's closure marked the end of its original venue, but the foundation, revitalized in 2012 with the involvement of board member Jonathan Warren, has since maintained ownership of the entire collection, including Liberace's rights, ensuring its ongoing preservation and global exhibition. Key elements of the collection include over 15 iconic capes and sequined costumes, such as those featured in the film ; a 9-foot mirrored Baldwin Concert Grand ; vintage automobiles like a 1961 Rolls-Royce adorned with mirror tiles and a custom convertible embedded with 84,000 Austrian crystals; and jewelry pieces, including the world's largest at 115,000 carats. Additional highlights encompass personal effects, historic photographs, awards, antiques, and art that reflect Liberace's evolution from a child piano prodigy—who performed with the at age 20—to a television star whose show drew over 30 million viewers weekly. As of 2025, the collection is securely stored and partially displayed across two sites managed by the Liberace Foundation: the Liberace Garage, a 10,000-square-foot space on Dean Martin Drive that hosts guided tours and events daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including the "Backstage at Liberace Garage" exhibit; and Thriller Villa, the former residence of , available for limited private tours by invitation. Portions of the collection have been loaned for international exhibits, such as at the 2019 and Fashion Week, underscoring its status as one of the largest archives in the world and its role in educating audiences about Liberace's contributions to entertainment and culture.

History

Establishment and early years

The Liberace Museum opened on April 15, 1979, as the first public building in the United States dedicated exclusively to the career and personal collection of entertainer Valentino Liberace, commonly known as . Located at 1775 East Tropicana Avenue in , , the site was strategically selected for its closeness to Liberace's home on Shirley Street and the vibrant , facilitating easy access for tourists and fans eager to explore his flamboyant legacy. Liberace's motivations for establishing the museum stemmed from his desire to preserve his extensive array of performance artifacts—such as sequined costumes, custom pianos, and jewelry—for public appreciation while ensuring his artistic influence endured beyond his lifetime. The venture also served a philanthropic purpose, generating revenue to support the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, which he had founded in 1976 to provide scholarships and grants to aspiring performers. Initial funding came from Liberace's personal wealth, including a $4 million endowment and the donation of his own collection, supplemented by museum ticket sales as a non-profit operation. Upon opening, the museum showcased thousands of items from Liberace's career, prominently featuring elaborate stage costumes adorned with thousands of rhinestones, vintage automobiles like his customized Rolls-Royces, and iconic pianos such as the mirrored . Admission fees were set at $3.50 for adults, making it an affordable attraction that quickly drew crowds. The museum proved an immediate success, becoming one of Las Vegas's top visitor draws with upwards of half a million attendees in its peak early years, solidifying its role as a major tourist destination.

Peak popularity and operations

The Liberace Museum Collection experienced its peak popularity during the and extending into the early , drawing up to 450,000 visitors annually and establishing itself as one of [Las Vegas](/page/Las Vegas)'s premier off-Strip attractions, rivaling landmarks like the in appeal. This surge aligned with the broader growth in [Las Vegas](/page/Las Vegas) tourism, which saw visitor numbers double from about 10 million in to over 20 million by the decade's end, fueled by expanding options and corporate investment in the region. Operations at the museum during this period centered on immersive daily guided tours led by docents, who narrated Liberace's career highlights while visitors explored the exhibits, often accompanied by audio-visual screenings of his to evoke the spectacle of his shows. The facility, spanning multiple buildings on East Tropicana Avenue, included a from its early years that sold memorabilia and supported revenue, alongside spaces for presentations that enhanced the theatrical experience. Tours typically lasted around 90 minutes, allowing time for detailed engagement with the collection's opulent displays. The museum was managed by the Liberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts, a nonprofit established by in 1976 and endowed with his collection plus approximately $4 million to fund scholarships and arts initiatives. personally oversaw operations until his death in 1987, maintaining a hands-on role in curating and promoting the exhibits. Prior to that, his brother served as museum manager and foundation administrator from its opening until his passing in 1983, after which the foundation's board assumed full control. Culturally, the museum functioned as a vibrant showcase for the camp sensibility and extravagant showmanship that epitomized Liberace's contributions to , drawing fans and celebrities alike to celebrate his flamboyant legacy. It hosted special events, including gatherings for the official and visits from notable figures in music and performance, reinforcing its status as a hub for appreciating mid-20th-century pop culture excess. While Liberace's declining health in the mid-to-late temporarily tempered promotional efforts, the museum's attendance and finances stabilized amid the late-decade tourism boom on the Las Vegas Strip, which introduced megaresorts and amplified overall visitor traffic to the area.

Closure in 2010

The closure of the Liberace Museum was publicly announced on September 10, 2010, with its final day of operation occurring on October 17, 2010, after 31 years of showcasing the performer's extravagant legacy. The primary reasons for the shutdown centered on financial pressures exacerbated by the economic . Attendance had steadily declined to about 50,000 visitors annually by , a sharp drop from peaks of 450,000 in prior decades, amid competition from newer attractions and an off-Strip location that deterred tourists. Operational costs, surpassing $1.3 million per year—including roughly $1 million for and payments plus $365,000 for utilities and other expenses—could no longer be sustained without eroding the Foundation's endowment for scholarships. In the immediate aftermath, the collection—comprising thousands of costumes, pianos, vehicles, and other artifacts—was meticulously packed and moved into secure storage to ensure its preservation, with the foundation affirming it would not be sold. The museum's iconic was removed post-closure and later restored in 2014 for public display at the in . Final days featured emotional farewell tours for devoted fans, underscoring the end of an era. The Foundation responded by redirecting resources to its core mission of funding scholarships for young musicians, aligning with Liberace's philanthropic intent to support over ongoing museum operations.

The Collection

Scope and significance

The Liberace Museum Collection encompasses thousands of items accumulated by the entertainer over his more than four-decade career, spanning stage props, personal effects, and archival materials. This vast assemblage, originally displayed at the Liberace Museum in , reflects the breadth of his personal and professional life from the onward. The collection is organized into key categories, including performance attire, musical instruments, vehicles, jewelry, and , which collectively illustrate themes of glamour, excess, and innovative showmanship central to Liberace's . These elements highlight his penchant for opulent presentation, blending functionality with theatrical flair to captivate audiences. Historically, the collection traces Liberace's transformation from a trained classical in to a pioneering who dominated stages for decades, preserving mid-20th-century American entertainment traditions that bridged vaudeville roots and modern revues. Its cultural significance extends to symbolizing subtle LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream entertainment, where extravagance served as a coded expression of identity amid societal constraints. Scholars draw upon it for research into fashion history, musical performance evolution, and the mechanics of . In terms of preservation, the Liberace Foundation oversees the maintenance of these artifacts to ensure their authenticity, with ongoing efforts including restoration of select pieces and strategic acquisitions to augment the holdings. This stewardship underscores the collection's enduring value as a tangible of .

Key artifacts and categories

The Liberace Museum Collection encompasses several distinct categories of artifacts that exemplify the performer's extravagant aesthetic and stage innovations, with items ranging from performance wear to customized . Costumes and attire form a of the collection, comprising more than 200 outfits and related pieces designed to dazzle audiences during Liberace's live shows and television appearances. These garments often featured opulent materials like fur, feathers, sequins, and rhinestones, tailored by designers such as Anna Nateece and Michael Travis to match his thematic performances. A standout example is the King Neptune cape, created for Liberace's 1984 World's Fair appearance in New Orleans, which spans 25 feet around and weighs over 200 pounds due to its dense covering of rhinestones, pearls, and sequins, making it the heaviest non-fur costume in his wardrobe. Earlier pieces from his television era include fur capes, such as a 150-pound white mink coat lined with crystals, and feathered ensembles like violet costumes with ostrich feather tiers, which enhanced his dramatic entrances on The Liberace Show. Musical instruments, particularly pianos, number over a dozen within the collection, reflecting Liberace's lifelong passion for the instrument as both a musical tool and a visual spectacle. Many were custom-modified with mirrors, crystals, and other embellishments to complement his stage outfits. The 9-foot mirrored Baldwin Concert Grand , encrusted with Austrian rhinestones and seen in the 2013 HBO Behind the , served as a signature prop for his and performances. Another iconic piece is the rhinestone-covered Baldwin grand , weighing approximately 200 pounds in added crystals alone, which Liberace played during his 1984 shows and matched his bejeweled attire. The "Candlelight ," a customized grand associated with his recurring candelabra motif from early TV appearances, symbolizes the romantic lighting effects central to his act. Vehicles represent Liberace's innovative use of automobiles as stage elements, with the collection featuring around eight customized luxury cars that he drove onstage to heighten theatricality. These include the 1962 Landaulette, repainted white and adorned with a jeweled and mirror exterior for a sparkling effect during performances. A mirrored 1959 75 , originally bronze and black but refitted in 1972 with a full of tiny mirror tiles on the lower body, was another favorite for its reflective glamour that echoed his and designs. Jewelry and accessories comprise thousands of items, underscoring Liberace's affinity for ostentatious personal adornment that extended to stage props. Highlights include diamond-encrusted and custom rings, such as 14-karat pieces shaped like grand pianos and set with pavé diamonds totaling around 3 carats. A prominent stage prop is the "Heart of Liberace," the world's largest crystal at the time of its 1985 creation, measuring 115,000 carats and weighing 50.6 pounds, presented to him by during a show. The collection also features a 6-foot-tall mirror ball used as a dramatic lighting element in his concerts. Archival materials provide insight into Liberace's professional journey, including photographs, performance scripts, and awards from the through the . These encompass two won in 1953 for his 1952 television series, along with related memorabilia like signed scripts and press photos documenting his rise from local broadcasts to international stardom.

Post-Closure Developments

Storage and preservation efforts

Following the closure of the Liberace Museum on October 17, 2010, the Liberace Foundation for the Creative and promptly arranged for the collection to be crated and relocated to off-site warehouses in to protect the artifacts from immediate dispersal or damage. The process involved careful packing of items such as costumes, pianos, and vehicles, with the overall collection occupying approximately 12,000 to 14,000 cubic feet once crated, ensuring secure temporary housing while the foundation assessed long-term options. Preservation efforts emphasized climate-controlled environments to safeguard delicate materials. Foundation staff and volunteers undertook inventory cataloging, addressing challenges like limited space in the initial warehouses and ongoing funding reliance on the organization's endowments amid economic pressures that had contributed to the museum's closure. Between 2011 and 2014, early initiatives included a project led by foundation archivist , which scanned and cataloged hundreds of photographs and documents from the collection, making them available for research and licensing while reducing physical handling risks. The foundation maintained oversight through dedicated management of storage conditions and periodic assessments to keep items in display-ready condition, prioritizing conservation to sustain the collection's viability for future exhibitions.

Relocations and revival initiatives

In 2014, the iconic neon sign from the original Liberace Museum was restored and relit by the in collaboration with the Shulman Family Foundation and , symbolizing a marker of revival for the collection following its closure. The restored sign, featuring a motif in striking pink neon, was installed in the 's , highlighting the enduring legacy of Liberace's flamboyant style. Early relocations began in 2015, when select vehicles from the collection were moved out of storage to a donated space at the Hollywood Cars Museum on Drive, establishing the Garage facility. This initiative brought the automobiles, including Liberace's customized Rolls-Royces, into a dedicated 5,000-square-foot space after five years in hiding, with the Garage officially opening to the public on , 2016, as the first Liberace exhibit in Las Vegas's tourism corridor. Partnerships with local venues, such as pop-up displays at properties like The Cosmopolitan in late 2013 and in 2021, enabled temporary showcases of costumes and artifacts to reengage the public without a permanent site. Revival projects gained momentum with the 2015 relocation of major portions of the collection to Thriller Villa, the former residence, for expanded storage and private tours, following its restoration to former glory. By 2016, traveling exhibits were actively launched, sending iconic pieces like costumes and pianos to museums nationwide and internationally, including a 2017 display at the . The 2018 efforts built on this by integrating Thriller Villa into broader tour programs, allowing limited access to highlight the collection's scope. These initiatives addressed post-closure storage challenges by prioritizing mobility and partnerships over static displays. Funding for these efforts included support from private benefactors and endowments managed by the Foundation, alongside collaborations with institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute for costume loans in the 2019 "Camp: Notes on " . These partnerships with and cultural organizations facilitated loans of elaborate garments, such as Liberace's crystal-encrusted outfits, to balance preservation needs with public engagement. The Foundation's strategic approach emphasized traveling shows and selective to sustain access without the high costs of reopening a full , as articulated during the 2010 closure. By 2020, significant portions of the collection were accessible through these nationwide and global initiatives, marking key milestones in revival. Later developments included the 2023 "Liberace: Real and Beyond" at the State Museum in , featuring rarely seen costumes and personal effects, and a planned 2025 exhibit "Backstage at Liberace Garage" to highlight the collection's influence on Las Vegas entertainment.

Current Locations and Exhibitions

Liberace Garage

The Liberace Garage, located at 5115 Dean Martin Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada, serves as a key venue for displaying portions of the Liberace Museum Collection following the original museum's closure. This 25,000-square-foot multi-use facility, which opened in April 2016, functions as a storage space, event venue, and public exhibition area, primarily showcasing Liberace's automotive artifacts alongside select pianos and stage elements. Adjacent to the Hollywood Cars Museum, it was established as part of revival efforts to preserve and present Liberace's legacy in a more accessible format after the collection's relocation from storage. Access to the Liberace Garage is available daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with ticketed entry priced at $20 for adults, including complimentary limited-time access to the neighboring Hollywood Cars Museum. Guided tours emphasize the automotive collection, while the space also accommodates performances, private events, and educational programs tied to the Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts. Beginning in winter 2025, a new guided tour exhibit titled "Backstage at Liberace Garage" will offer deeper insights into Liberace's performance history. The garage features a full display of Liberace's stage vehicles, including his iconic mirrored from 1961, a red-white-and-blue Bicentennial Rolls-Royce, and other custom cars used in performances at venues like the Las Vegas Hilton and . Complementing these are select , such as a white hot rod fused with a working grand piano created as a tribute to Liberace's style, along with stage props and rotating exhibits themed around his travel-inspired extravagance. Unique interactive elements enhance the visit, including photo opportunities with the vehicles and a backstage studio, fostering engagement for visitors interested in Liberace's innovative use of automobiles in — a pioneering approach that influenced later shows. The facility integrates with the foundation's initiatives by providing spaces for performing arts students to explore Liberace's artifacts during educational events. Visitors often praise the Liberace Garage for its intimate scale compared to the original museum, offering a focused, immersive experience amid the artifacts' glamour, with high ratings reflecting its appeal as a hidden gem in tourism.

Thriller Villa

Thriller Villa, located at 2710 Palomino Lane in , , serves as a primary storage and exhibition facility for the Liberace Museum Collection. Originally built in the 1970s as Hacienda Palomino and later leased by from 2008 to 2009, the Spanish Mediterranean-style mansion became accessible to the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts in 2014 through the generosity of its owner, Aner Iglesias, a prominent supporter of the foundation. The 24,276-square-foot property, situated near the Strip, functions as a secure annex for preserving and preparing artifacts for global loans and exhibitions. Primarily dedicated to the storage of Liberace's vast wardrobe and jewelry, Thriller Villa houses iconic pieces such as mirrored capes, fur ensembles, and elaborate stage costumes that exemplify his flamboyant style. The facility also contains archival photographs, personal effects, and documents, with ample space allowing for temporary setups that recreate elements of Liberace's stage designs for curation and preview purposes. Operations focus on conservation and exhibit preparation, enabling the shipment of items worldwide while maintaining the collection's integrity; the villa's private nature supports high-security measures suitable for sensitive fabrics and valuables. As of 2025, it ties into Liberace's Hollywood legacy through its connection to Jackson, a longtime friend who shared the performer's affinity for spectacle. The villa hosts foundation events, including galas and performances in its on-site Chapel Theater, such as the 2024 appearance by Broadway star . Not open daily to the public, access is limited to by-appointment guided tours arranged via the foundation's website, emphasizing its role as an elite venue. These invitation-only experiences, typically lasting 1 to 2 hours and costing upwards of $179, provide intimate views of the collection and have earned Thriller Villa a 4.9 out of 5 rating on in 2025, with reviewers hailing it as the top museum and tour in for its unique blend of history and glamour.

Traveling and temporary exhibitions

The traveling exhibition program of the Liberace Museum Collection was initiated in the mid-2010s following the original museum's closure, enabling the display of curated selections from the collection at various global venues to educate audiences on Liberace's legacy in . These exhibitions typically feature subsets of artifacts, ranging from a dozen costumes to larger assemblages including jewelry, pianos, and , tailored to thematic focuses such as personal influences or cultural impact. One of the inaugural traveling shows was held at the from May 18 to November 5, 2017, in partnership with the Liberace Foundation, showcasing jewelry and taboo elements from 's career alongside . In 2017-2018, fifteen stage costumes were loaned to The Wick Theatre in for a production-inspired display, highlighting Liberace's theatrical style. The 2019 Monte Carlo exhibition emphasized Liberace's jeweled accessories, while elements from the collection influenced the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Camp: Notes on Fashion Gala, where costumes underscored themes of extravagance and performance. A prominent recent example is "Liberace: Real and Beyond," co-produced with the Nevada State Museum in , which ran from June 24, 2023, to April 29, 2024, and featured rarely seen costumes, religious items, historic photographs, and personal effects to explore 's life beyond the stage. Partnerships have included institutions like the (UNLV) for educational programs and the Cosmopolitan Hotel for pop-up events, alongside loans to venues for authenticity in productions. Exhibitions often center on specific eras or aspects of Liberace's career, such as his 1950s television presence or 1970s Las Vegas residencies, with artifacts selected to illustrate broader entertainment history. Logistics involve preparation and insured shipping from the collection's storage at Thriller Villa, handled by specialized art transport services to ensure preservation during transit. Revenue from these shows supports the Liberace Foundation's scholarship programs for performing arts students, continuing a tradition of over $6 million in grants awarded since 1979. As of 2025, the program continues with plans for additional temporary displays, building on recent collaborations to expand access worldwide.

References

  1. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/dec/13/first-influencer-liberace-to-get-las-vegas-street/
  2. https://neon.reviewjournal.com/arts-culture/liberaces-museum-is-closed-but-you-can-still-see-his-stuff-in-las-vegas-3080810/
  3. https://www.lasvegasnvmuseum.org/exhibits/liberace-real-and-beyond/
  4. https://liberace.org/liberace-museum-collection/
  5. https://liberace.org/liberace-museum-collection/exhibits/
  6. https://americanpopularculture.com/archive/venues/liberace.htm
  7. https://lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/may/13/liberace-museum-celebrates-contemplates-move/
  8. https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/question/liberace-part-2/
  9. https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/liberace-museum-strives-to-keep-its-sparkle-after-30-years/
  10. https://veryvintagevegas.com/2009/03/13/liberace-museum-30th-anniversary-celebration/
  11. https://liberace.org/about/the-foundation/
  12. http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/15/liberace.museum.closing/index.html
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  14. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39273852
  15. https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/great-vegas-turnaround
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2vwHTQsYUo
  17. https://liberacemuseum.store/pages/about
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  19. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/16/Liberaces-brother-dies/7042435124800/
  20. https://theliberacefanclub.org/
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/18/us/18liberace.html
  22. https://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/15/liberace.museum.closing/index.html
  23. https://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/sep/22/liberace-museum-hosts-parade-protestors-attraction/
  24. https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2010/09/12/Liberace-museum-in-Las-Vegas-closing/10611284317122/
  25. https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2014/sep/18/liberace-and-jerrys-nugget-glow-again-neon-museums/
  26. https://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/oct/17/sadness-disbelief----and-sign-above----marks-closi/
  27. https://liberace.org/liberace-museum-collection/buy-sell-liberace-artifacts/
  28. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-13-me-23860-story.html
  29. https://www.spaceagepop.com/liberace.htm
  30. https://www.biography.com/musicians/liberace
  31. https://knpr.org/show/nevada-yesterdays/2019-05-09/nevada-yesterdays
  32. https://lasvegaspride.org/2024/11/12/a-vibrant-evolution-exploring-the-lgbtq-scene-in-las-vegas/
  33. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22099082
  34. https://liberace.org/2021/12/08/lost-treasures-of-liberace-to-be-resurrected/
  35. https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2010/oct/27/life-after-liberace/
  36. https://www.flickr.com/photos/liberace/4898811534
  37. https://fashionista.com/2013/04/liberace-costumes-new-book
  38. https://www.flickr.com/photos/liberace/4898813580
  39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x6bs9qigcM
  40. https://archive.nytimes.com/wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/the-flamboyant-cars-of-liberace/
  41. https://www.facebook.com/vintagecelebritycar/posts/liberaces-1959-cadillac-fleetwood-75-limousine-the-car-is-pictured-at-a-party-he/1778917618865885/
  42. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/liberaces-personally-owned-custom-3-00ctw-vs1-vs2-6g-c-c4841bcb92
  43. https://liberace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/liberace-crystal-experience.pdf
  44. https://www.npr.org/2010/10/15/130571040/liberace-museum-closes-its-glittery-gates
  45. https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/liberace-museum-closes-as-cash-flow-played-out/
  46. https://liberace.org/2015/07/13/video-liberace-studios-004-royal-albert-hall-photo/
  47. https://www.deseret.com/2010/9/17/20141368/liberace-museum-closing-but-not-the-drama/
  48. https://liberace.org/2016/06/19/liberace-museum-collection-photo-library/
  49. https://vocal.media/wheel/liberace-garage
  50. https://www.ktnv.com/positivelylv/dining-and-entertainment/liberace-garage-to-be-unveiled-april-7
  51. https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Liberace-exhibit-popping-up-at-Cosmopolitan
  52. http://www.insideedition.com/videos/3593-liberace-mansion-restored-to-its-former-glory
  53. https://www.facebook.com/TheLiberaceFoundation/posts/in-8-years-liberace-has-been-exhibited-at-the-mus%25C3%25A9e-dart-moderne-de-paris-the-th/1186576596832005/
  54. https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/worldpride-met-otherness-camp
  55. https://www.yelp.com/biz/liberace-garage-las-vegas
  56. https://liberace.org/2016/03/07/liberace-garage-grand-opening-april-7/
  57. http://hollywoodcarsmuseum.com/liberaces-top-cars-go-back-display-las-vegas/
  58. https://liberace.org/liberace-museum-collection/exhibits/liberace-garage-is-a-museum-space-which-hosts-events-and-performances/
  59. https://gocity.com/en/las-vegas/attractions/hollywood-cars-museum-liberace-garage
  60. https://theshopmag.com/features/a-tour-through-hollywood-cars-museum-liberace-garage-in-las-vegas/
  61. https://liberacemuseum.store/products/liberace-garage-event-venue-booking
  62. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45963-d12205814-Reviews-Liberace_Garage-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html
  63. https://neon.reviewjournal.com/arts-culture/liberace-lives-on-inside-the-thriller-villa-in-las-vegas-video-1555970/
  64. https://www.reviewjournal.com/homes/real-estate-millions/las-vegas-thriller-villa-listed-for-9-5-million/
  65. https://liberace.org/event-venues-in-las-vegas/thriller-villa/
  66. https://liberacemuseum.store/products/liberace-museum-collection-tour
  67. https://liberace.org/category/event/
  68. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45963-d12205677-Reviews-The_Liberace_Museum_Collection-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html
  69. https://liberace.org/2023/06/24/liberace-real-and-beyond/
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