Mob Museum — National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement
The Mob Museum, officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is a history museum in Downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the story of organized crime in America and the law-enforcement agencies that fought it. Housed in the former Las Vegas Post Office and Federal Courthouse — where 1950 Kefauver Committee hearings on organized crime were held — the museum opened in 2012 and has since become one of the most-visited cultural institutions in Nevada.
At a glance
- Type
- History museum
- Period
- Building constructed 1933; museum opened February 14, 2012
- Style
- Neoclassical federal courthouse architecture
- Location
- 300 Stewart Avenue, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada 89101, USA
- Coordinates
- 36.1728° N, 115.1434° W
Overview
The Mob Museum occupies a 1933 Neoclassical federal courthouse and post office in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas. Its permanent and rotating exhibits trace the rise and fall of organized crime in the United States, from Prohibition-era bootleggers to the modern-day legacy of the Mafia. The museum also explores the parallel history of law enforcement, including the FBI, DEA, and local police departments that worked to dismantle criminal networks.
History
The building that houses the museum was constructed in 1933 and served as the main federal courthouse and post office in Las Vegas for decades. Notably, it hosted the 1950 Kefauver Senate Committee hearings on organized crime, one of the first televised congressional investigations in American history. After the courthouse relocated, the city of Las Vegas acquired the building and invested in transforming it into a museum dedicated to the city’s complex relationship with the mob. The Mob Museum opened on February 14, 2012 — the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
What you see
Visitors encounter three floors of immersive exhibits featuring authentic artifacts, including weapons, wiretapping equipment, and crime-scene evidence. One of the most iconic objects on display is a section of the actual wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre garage in Chicago. The courtroom where the Kefauver hearings took place has been preserved and can be explored as part of the tour. Interactive stations, documentary footage, and personal testimonies from law-enforcement officers and mob insiders bring the narrative to life.
Cultural significance
The Mob Museum occupies a unique position in American cultural memory, presenting a frank and evidence-based account of organized crime’s influence on politics, business, and popular culture throughout the 20th century. By situating the story inside a courthouse where real anti-mob proceedings took place, the museum connects visitors directly to living history. It has received national recognition as a landmark of public history and responsible storytelling about a sensitive and enduring aspect of American society.
Practical information
Address: 300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101. The museum is open daily; hours vary by season — check the official website for current times and ticket prices. Admission is charged; discounts available for Nevada residents, seniors, military, and children.
Getting there
The Mob Museum is located in Downtown Las Vegas, approximately 1.5 miles north of the Las Vegas Strip. It is accessible by the Las Vegas Monorail (Sahara Station) combined with a short taxi or rideshare ride, or by the RTC bus network (Route 113 stops nearby). Metered street parking and several public parking garages are available within walking distance on Stewart and Ogden Avenues.