Purifoy's desert home was a living museum showcasing his art and as Hurst discovered, Purifoy still had plenty of compelling things to say about the fate of the "black Revolution" and the art form he helped to legitimize.

NPR: Noah Purifoy: Art as Elegant Wreckage

In fact, for your first afternoon, you can go one of two directions the Desert Botanical Garden or the Heard Museum.

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The final irony is that Stein risked his life to unearth treasures from the sands of the Taklamakan Desert only to have them buried in the basement of the British Museum.

CNN: Books

The well-designed and compelling museum has a vast mix of artifacts and interactive displays, with a special exhibit on another Nevada desert intrigue, Area 51.

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