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See The Mob Museum

Updated on September 4, 2015
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Mob Museum Building
Mob Museum Building

People who visit Las Vegas, Nevada are always able to gamble, but they can also take the time to visit the Mob Museum. The official name of it is the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. It was designed to showcase the stories, history as well as preserve the artifacts associated with organized crime in the United States. It also provides the history and activities of law enforcement to combat organized crime. It is located in a building that was formerly the Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse. It illustrates the challenging relationship between law enforcement and organized crime. The building was constructed in 1933 and can be found on the National Register of Historic Places list.

Organized Crime Activity During The 1920s
Organized Crime Activity During The 1920s

Organized Crime

This is defined by law enforcement as the systematic and unlawful activity for profit in a city, across state lines as well as on an international level. These organizations are known for their ability to keep their illegal operations hidden. Members often speak to one another only by word of mouth. The act of participation in illegal activities as a structured group is referred to by law enforcement as racketeering. It is understood the ability for this organization to succeed it must have cooperation from the upright members of society. They must have members from the police force as well as the judiciary and legislature to work with them. Organized crime is said to do this by blackmail, bribery, creating dependent relationships and more. The money it makes is usually the result of trafficking illegal narcotics, prostitution, gambling and more.

Display At Mob Museum
Display At Mob Museum

Museum Opening

The Mob Museum opened for business on February 14, 2012. The tours start on the third floor and moves down through the building. The museum has a gift shop that is located on the first floor. Visitors are always happy to experience the many hands-on exhibits provided while learning about Prohibition, organized crime and law enforcement method for combating such crime. The museum provides information on such historical figures as J. Edgar Hoover, Eliot Ness, Al Capone and more. Visitors can see a replica electric chair as well as listen to actual law enforcement wiretaps. There is also a simulator that was used to train police on firing guns.

Second Floor Courtroom At Mob Museum
Second Floor Courtroom At Mob Museum

Second Floor Courtroom

One of the most popular exhibits at the Mob Museum is the courtroom located on the second floor. This was a location for one of over a dozen national Kefauver Committee hearings. These hearings were held in the early 1950s and designed to expose organized crime. It was started by a U.S. Senator named Estes Kefauver who was from Tennessee. The Kefauver Committee hearings occurred in over a dozen cities across the United States. Hundreds of witnesses testified. The hearings were shown live on television. It provided many people in the United States with their first images of organized crime and its impact on society. The hearings were designed to prove a Sicilian-Italian organization had a vast crime organization in the United States. The Kefauver Committee provided its final report in 1951 and had 22 different recommendations. Among the best-known recommendations was creating a law enforcement group called a racket squad in the U.S. Department of Justice. It also recommended the establishment of a permanent Crime Commission within the federal government. The committee also recommended that over 30 individuals be investigated and prosecuted.

Tommy Gun Display At Mob Museum
Tommy Gun Display At Mob Museum

Self-Guided Tour

The self-guided tour at the Mob Museum starts on the third floor of the building. This is where visitors are able to enjoy an educational film about Organized Crime and its history. The story on the film begins after Prohibition was passed. There is an opportunity to see a number of photographs about the Mob and its members. There are explanations beneath each photo describing the significance of the image. There is even an opportunity to see the wall from the building where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre took place. There is also a Tommy gun available for people to hold and even pretend to shoot. The museum also provides several exhibits that are interactive. A number of stations are located around the museum where people can watch relevant films about the world of Organized Crime.

Wall From Saint Valentine's Day Massacre At Mob Museum
Wall From Saint Valentine's Day Massacre At Mob Museum

Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

This incident occurred in 1929 on Saint Valentine's Day in Chicago, Illinois. It was the day when six mob members and a mechanic were killed on Chicago's north side. The motivation for the murders was a battle between an Irish gang led by Bugs Moran and am Italian gang from Chicago's south side led by Al Capone. It was part of a battle for the control of Chicago's organized crime world. Seven members of the Bugs Moran gang were shot while standing in a line and facing a wall. The Saint Valentine's Day massacre ended any gang opposition to Al Capone's control of organized crime in Chicago. It made Al Capone one of the most notorious gangsters in the United States.

Albert Anastasia Barber Chair
Albert Anastasia Barber Chair

Albert Anastasia

The Mob Museum has the actual barber chair Albert Anastasia was sitting in when he was murdered. Anastasia was one of the most feared mobsters in the history of the United States. He was a founder of the American Mafia. He also was in charge of Murder, Inc. During the 1950s, Anastasia was head of the Gambino crime family. He was assassinated in October of 1957. Anastasia walked into a barber shop in Manhattan and sat down. His driver parked the car in an underground garage and took a walk. Anastasia had nobody around to look out for him. Two men rushed into the barber shop with scarves covering their faces. They pushed the barber out of the way and shot at Anastasia. Some reports said Anastasia tried to fight back against his attackers. The gunmen fired more rounds. Anastasia was dead when he fell off the chair onto the floor.

Mobs Greatest Hits Display At Mob Museum
Mobs Greatest Hits Display At Mob Museum

Collections

Visitors to the museum are able to see a number of sections with collected items following a theme. There is a section that shows the Mob's activities with gambling, prostitution, drugs, bootlegging and more. There are also items showing how law enforcement worked to stop these criminal operations. There is a section of photographs called “Mob's Greatest Hits.” These are images of corpses who were people killed as a result of mob hits. The pictures are labeled as graphic. There are also pictures as well as biographical information provided of the best known and notorious gangsters in the United States. There is a special wall near the museum's exit that shows pictures of actors who had acting roles as well-known Mobsters in television and movies.

Wiretapping Exhibit At Mob Museum
Wiretapping Exhibit At Mob Museum

Mob Museum Video

Visitor Contact Information

WEBSITE

http://themobmuseum.org

ADDRESS

300 Stewart Ave

Las Vegas, NV 89101

PHONE NUMBER

702-229-2734

HOURS

Monday Through Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Friday And Saturday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Location Of Mob Museum

A
300 Stewart Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89101:
300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA

get directions

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