Mob Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 14 February 2012 |
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| Location | 300 E Stewart Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA |
| Type | History |
The Mob Museum, also known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is a history museum in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It opened on February 14, 2012.
This museum shows the history of organized crime in the United States. It also highlights the efforts of law enforcement to stop these crimes. The museum is inside the old Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse. This building was built in 1933 and is a historic landmark. The museum is located near Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
The museum was created by Dennis Barrie, who also helped make the International Spy Museum. A non-profit group works with the City of Las Vegas to run the museum. It focuses on the story of organized crime and how police have worked against it throughout history.
Museum History
In 2000, the government sold the old post office building to the city for just $1. The city agreed to restore the building and use it for a cultural purpose.
In 2002, the mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, had the idea for a museum about organized crime. Some groups were against the idea at first. However, the FBI supported it. The former head of the FBI in Las Vegas even joined the museum's board.
The museum project cost about $50 million. This included $26 million to restore the old building. Money came from federal, state, and local grants. The museum officially opened on February 14, 2012.
What You Can See
The main part of the Mob Museum is the courtroom on the second floor. This room was used for important hearings in the 1950s. These hearings helped to show the public what organized crime was doing. The museum also has a brick wall from a famous event called the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.
Other exhibits show how money was illegally taken from casinos. They also show how law enforcement used methods like listening in on criminals to catch them. In 2018, a new exhibit called "Organized Crime Today" was added.
Your visit starts on the third floor. You can take an elevator or stairs to see the St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall. From there, you move down to the second and first floors. You can watch a film about the history of organized crime, starting around the time of Prohibition. Many exhibits have photos with captions that explain important events and people.
The museum has many sections about different illegal activities, like gambling or making illegal alcohol. It also shows how police worked to stop these crimes. You can see pictures and short stories about famous gangster figures. There is a special wall near the exit with pictures of actors who played mobsters in movies.
Many exhibits are interactive. You can sit in a replica electric chair. You can listen to real recordings of criminals. You can also learn about police training and forensic science.
There is a gift shop on the first floor. Through photos, stories, and hands-on exhibits, you can learn about the history of organized crime. You will also learn about Prohibition and how it created opportunities for illegal businesses. The museum covers topics like Las Vegas' first casinos, J. Edgar Hoover, and the start of the FBI.
In April 2018, the museum opened a secret bar and distillery called The Underground. This area is in the basement. It shows the history of the Prohibition era. It also tells the stories of people who illegally made and sold alcohol. The museum even makes its own moonshine there.
