Mob Museum Opens in Las Vegas

The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, opened to the public on Feb. 14 in downtown Las Vegas on the 83rd anniversary of the Chicago St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. One of the Museum’s artifacts is the brick wall against which the members of the Bugs Moran gang were lined up and shot and killed by members of Al Capone’s gang.

The grand opening kicked off with an early morning mass wedding and vow renewal ceremony in The Mob Museum’s historic courtroom — the same courtroom where one of the 14 Kefauver nationwide hearings took place in 1950 to expose organized crime. Seven couples from throughout the country were randomly drawn via a national “Married at The Mob Museum” promotion.

The Mob Museum is housed in the former federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office built in 1933 during the Hoover administration. Carefully and meticulously rehabilitated to house the museum, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered the museum’s ultimate artifact.

Designed by the same creative team credited with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., The Mob Museum adopts a contemporary style to story-telling approach via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments. Visitors can shoot a Tommy Gun simulator, listen in on actual wiretaps and be part of a police line-up.

The 41,000-square-foot Mob Museum includes 17,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors in addition to a specialty retail store, special event areas, educational areas and office space. Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, students, military, law enforcement and teachers, and $10 for local residents of all ages.

THE MOB MUSEUM TO OPEN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012

National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement housed in one of Las Vegas’ most historic buildings

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2011) — There are two sides to every story — and then there’s the truth. Uncover the real life battle between organized crime and law enforcement when The Mob Museum opens to the public on February 14, 2012. The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas that presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world.

With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments.

The Museum has acquired some of the most iconic artifacts in mob history including the brick wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and the barber chair that Albert Anastasia was murdered in. The opening date is the 83rd anniversary of the infamous Massacre, considered one of the most significant days in Mob history, during which seven men affiliated with the Bugs Moran gang were murdered by the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone.

The Museum’s board of directors is headed by Ellen Knowlton, former FBI Special Agent in Charge, Las Vegas Division, and a 24-year FBI veteran. The Mob Museum boasts a highly respected board including professionals from local and state government, law enforcement, the judicial system, media and the business community. A key visionary for the project and current board member is former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, a previous go-to defense attorney who made a name for himself representing such reputed mobsters as Meyer Lansky, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony Spilotro, among others.

Artifacts to be integrated throughout the Museum’s interactive exhibits provide an insider’s look into many of organized crime’s biggest names, including, Alphonse Capone, Dion O’Bannion, George Moran, Charlie “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Ben Siegel, Sam Giancana, Joe Bonanno, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen, Tony Cornero, Whitey Bulger and John Gotti to name just a few. The Museum is located in what many consider the ultimate artifact, the former federal courthouse and United States Post Office. Completed in 1933 and listed on the Nevada and National Registers of Historic Places, it houses the very courtroom where one of 14 national Kefauver hearings was held to expose and control organized crime in America was held in 1950. Meticulously rehabilitated for The Mob Museum, the building is significant not only for its neo-classical architecture reminiscent of the period in which it was built, but also for the historic events that unfolded inside of it.

The Museum is also working with the FBI and many famous undercover agents who made a career of fighting the Mob, including legendary agents Joe Pistone who infiltrated the Mob posing as a small time jewel thief, Donnie Brasco, and Cuban-born Jack Garcia who successfully ingrained himself into the Gambino family.

In addition, items and artifacts relating to law enforcement’s role in helping to eradicate and control the Mob, such as weapons, wiretapping tools and tactics and crime scene photos, will also be shown. The Mob Museum is a modern-day museum and offers highly experiential and interactive experiences. Fascinating stories are brought to life through one-of-a-kind artifacts, interactive touch screens and unique ways to engage with law enforcement and organized crime materials. For example, visitors can “shoot” a simulated tommy gun, listen to real FBI surveillance tapes on wiretapping equipment and take part in FBI weapons training.

The Mob Museum, a $42 million construction project funded by the city of Las Vegas and nearly $9 million in historic preservation grants – including federal, state and local – is under construction at 300 Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. The building was dedicated on November 27, 1933 as the city’s first federal building. As part of the construction and rehabilitation of the building, the courtroom is being restored to appear as it did in 1950 during the famed Kefauver hearings, named for Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

The Museum is being designed by a world-class team known for other successful museums that serve to reinvigorate communities and neighborhoods, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio and the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. This highly experienced team of staff, board members and consultants are working together to create one of the city’s major attractions and a must-see for millions of tourists and locals alike.

The 41,000-square-foot Mob Museum includes approximately 17,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors in addition to a specialty retail store, special event areas, educational areas and office space. Admission is $18 for adults ages 18 and over; $12 for children ages 5 to 17 and students ages 18 to 23 with ID; $14 for seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours will be Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

About The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments. For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.