Pahrump museum unveils expanded exhibit on Nevada Silver Tappers

The Pahrump Valley Museum has widened the Silver Tappers story from a nostalgic display into a statement about how Pahrump remembers itself. The updated exhibit puts B.J. Hetrick-Irwin, who founded the Nevada Silver Tappers in 1989, at the center of a local history built on performance, fundraising and the volunteer energy that has long sustained Nye County civic life.

A crowd gathered at the museum on Saturday, June 6, for the presentation of the expanded display, which was introduced by Mary McRory, the 2025 Ms. Senior Golden Years queen. McRory made the renovation part of her pageant platform, saying she wanted to help the museum refurbish the Silver Tappers exhibit and honor the troupe’s costumes and history. The refreshed installation now features photos, plaques and milestone moments from more than 30 years of performances and community service.

The timing mattered. Hetrick-Irwin celebrated her 101st birthday on June 19, a reminder that the story the museum is preserving is still being shaped by the people who created it. Hetrick-Irwin also founded the local Ms. Senior Golden Years pageant by 2003, extending the same spirit of confidence and community service that drove the Silver Tappers from the start. The museum’s free admission and mission to preserve Pahrump heritage make it a fitting home for that history, alongside artifacts that range from Native American pieces to pioneer relics.

The Silver Tappers have been described for years as Pahrump’s ambassadors, and the group’s reach has gone far beyond the stage. A 2012 souvenir calendar, titled “Nevada Silver Tappers Ambassadors of Pahrump,” sold for $15 with proceeds going back to the troupe. Their annual Christmas Benefit Show has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charitable causes over the years, and a 2020 “Returning the Favor” feature drew more than 5.2 million views, along with upward of 65,000 reactions and 25,000-plus shares. That appearance also brought surprise donations of $9,000 in dance wear products and $25,000 in cash.

The group’s fundraising work continues to resonate in town. At the 2025 USO Benefit Show, the Silver Tappers packed the Saddle West showroom over two performances and raised thousands of dollars for the Veterans Food Bank and the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. A 2026 report said the Silver Tappers and Ms. Senior Golden Years presented a $3,500 check to the VFW Veterans Food Bank, representing half of that year’s USO Benefit Show total. With the expanded exhibit now on view, the museum is preserving more than costumes and photographs. It is documenting how one local troupe helped build Pahrump’s public identity, one performance and one fundraiser at a time.