Darcie Vance, a researcher for The Unofficial Guides, visited the Las Vegas Mob Museum, also known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Find out all about it.
Gangsters have taken over the former post office and courthouse that was built in 1933. Located in downtown Las Vegas, this museum displays artifacts and interactive exhibits that provide visitors with a look into organized crime.
The museum provides the history of both the mobsters themselves and the law that tried to fight back against organized crime. The journey begins on the third floor and introduces visitors to the Birth of the Mob. Prohibition, the birth of Las Vegas, and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre are described in detail. This floor includes the actual wall and story of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. This floor also explains how the feds fought back and how the mob continued to expand during this time.
The second floor transports visitors to the 1950s to learn about the Kefauver hearings. These televised hearings were led by the Tennessee Senator and spanned to 14 cities across the country (including the building that is now the Mob Museum). This floor also features the Mob’s Greatest Hits, which includes stories on how some of the most famous mobsters met their end.
100 Years of Made Men provides the mug shot and story of some of the most notorious men (and a few women) of organized crime. The first floor ends the tour with the Organized Crime Today Exhibit, describing how crime now includes data breaches, virtual currency, illegal trade of animals, and human trafficking.
The museum also includes a basement Speakeasy for those who want to experience firsthand the Prohibition scene. The bar includes moonshine, vodka, and beer, made in house. I was pleasantly surprised at the smoothness of the house-made moonshine. Due to their popularity, the moonshine and vodka are available for purchase.
A sharable bites menu is also available. Check the website for details on happy hour, Industry Night for locals, and live Jazz Nights. For those who only want to experience the Speakeasy, a ticket to the museum is not required.
There are also add-on experiences, such as the Crime Lab, a Firearm Training Simulator, and a Distillery Tour, which includes a tasting.
Tickets can be purchased online (or at the box office inside the museum) and start at $27. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the Speakeasy closes at midnight. There is a small parking garage that charges $7 for the first three hours with an additional hourly charge after that time. The museum is located at 300 Stewart Avenue in Las Vegas. Check the website for more information and special events.
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