(The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement)
A recent trip to Las Vegas led us to the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement — better known as The Mob Museum. This well-curated, deeply informative museum offers a fascinating walk through the history of organized crime, its influence on American culture, and its unique role in the growth of Las Vegas.
Housed in the former U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (built in 1933), the building itself feels like a step back in time and adds serious atmosphere to the experience.
This visit easily ranked as one of the highlights of our trip. The Mob Museum doesn’t just present facts; it tells a story — starting with the origins of organized crime and leading you through decades of history, influence, and sometimes surprising contributions. (For instance, did you know the mob actually helped Allied efforts during World War II?) You’ll also learn how organized crime shifted from bootlegging and bribery into sports, entertainment, and — eventually — the Las Vegas casino empire, where they didn’t have to break the law to make a fortune… but could if they wanted to.
We missed the very beginning of the courtroom presentation but highly recommend catching the talks and videos — many featuring original historical footage.
A few highlights you might want to make sure you catch: seeing the actual bullet-riddled wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, trying out forensic techniques at the Interactive Crime Lab, and sitting in the historic courtroom where real mobsters once stood trial.
Trust me, two hours was nowhere near enough.
If you’re even remotely interested in Vegas history, true crime, or classic Americana, you could easily spend a half day here (and still want more).
Highlights of the Mob Museum (extra fees noted $$):
- The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall (yes, the original bullet-riddled wall)
- 100 Years of Made Men timeline
- Wiretapping and Surveillance exhibits
- The Courtroom Theater (sit where mobsters were actually prosecuted)
- $$ Firearm Training Simulator (practice law enforcement scenarios)
- $$ Interactive Crime Lab (try hands-on forensic techniques)
- $$ Underground Speakeasy & Distillery (open to museum guests — or visit separately through the hidden entrance!)
If You Go
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Location: 300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV
- Tickets: Buy online to save a few dollars
- Parking: Small lot available ($8 for 4 hours) — or nearby garages
- Plan for: 2–4 hours (or longer if you dive deep!)
I used AI tools like ChatGPT to help research and edit this article — but every story, detail, and memory shared here is curated and reviewed by a human who loves vintage travel! All photographs in this post were taken by me.
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