The VAST Theater Project is a new kind of rural learning and gathering place—not a replica of a museum or lab, but a home for curiosity and connection in a region often overlooked. VAST offers locally rooted, hands-on programs that welcome residents and visitors alike.
Project Description
Two linked spaces braid sky, land, and culture:
Celestial Hall (1,300 sq ft, darkened environment): interactive exhibits, real-time visualizations, and hands-on displays that animate current discoveries; adaptable seating for 250+ for lectures, performances, and community events; novel visitor interactions using large language models to support responsive, personalized engagement.
White Pine Landscape Observatory (centerpiece gallery): exhibits on the overlapping ecological, historical, and cultural landscapes of White Pine County; immersive storytelling that links celestial phenomena with the surrounding basin; interpretation that can include Indigenous sky stories and the significance of Bahsahwahbee, as partnerships mature and thrive.
current status
The street front offices and main lobby have been renovated over the past two years. While not yet opened to the public, the front spaces will soon be utilized to prototype exhibits and begin important conversations with community leaders, tribal elders, and youth educators.
The larger theater renovation will take place as funding and opportunities come together.
Nowhere like ely
Ely sits in Nevada’s high desert at the heart of White Pine County—remarkably remote, ringed by big sky and basin-and-range peaks, and home to some of the darkest night skies in the Lower 48. This is Shoshone, Goshute, and Paiute homeland; the Ely Shoshone, Duckwater Shoshone, and Confederated Tribes of the Goshute maintain deep, living relationships with these lands.
A working town with a walkable historic core, Ely bridges rail and mining heritage with an energetic arts scene and fast access to trails, hot springs, petroglyph sites, and Great Basin National Park. It’s also a hub for growing mountain-biking efforts—community-built singletrack and events in the hills around Ward Mountain, Cave Lake, and beyond. VAST joins this momentum, linking science, culture, and local stories so residents and visitors can explore the landscape—and the cosmos—together.
about us
The VAST Theater is led by Muser Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to curiosity-driven, place-based science learning. Executive Director Shawn Lani brings 30 years at the Exploratorium, where he led major NSF grants and created nationally recognized public-space exhibits. As a fifth-generation Ely descendant, Shawn deeply respects the area’s rich historical and cultural traditions. Co-Founder Adam Esposito, a mechanical engineer and former exhibit developer at the Chabot Space & Science Center and the Exploratorium, has deep expertise in designing and building space and astronomy-related exhibits. Together, Muser’s leadership combines local legitimacy, frontier-science partnerships, and decades of exhibit and science communication experience—uniquely positioning the team to realize the VAST Theater Project.