Mob Museum

Mob Museum is a history museum located in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, dedicated to the history of organized crime in America. The museum was founded by Oscar Goodman, a former Mayor of Las Vegas, and Ellen Bernstein, and is situated in the former Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum's exhibits feature artifacts and stories about infamous gangsters such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and John Gotti, as well as law enforcement officials like Eliot Ness and J. Edgar Hoover. The museum also explores the history of prohibition in the United States, including the Volstead Act and the 21st Amendment.

● History

The Mob Museum's history dates back to the early 20th century, when the Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse building was constructed during the Great Depression. The building was designed by James A. Wetmore and Gilbert Stanley Underwood, and features a unique blend of Art Deco and Neoclassical architectural styles, similar to the Empire State Building and the United States Supreme Court Building. The building served as a United States District Court for the District of Nevada until 2002, and was also used as a United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The museum's founders, Oscar Goodman and Ellen Bernstein, worked with Senator Harry Reid and Representative Shelley Berkley to secure funding for the museum's development, which included a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and support from the National Park Service. The museum's exhibits were designed in consultation with experts from the FBI Academy and the Smithsonian Institution, and feature artifacts on loan from the Library of Congress and the National Archives.

● Exhibits

The Mob Museum's exhibits feature a wide range of artifacts and interactive displays, including a Wall of Honor dedicated to law enforcement officials who have fought against organized crime, such as Eliot Ness and Melvin Purvis. The museum's exhibits also explore the history of prohibition in the United States, including the Volstead Act and the 21st Amendment, and feature artifacts such as Al Capone's Thompson submachine gun and Lucky Luciano's passport. The museum's exhibits are organized into several galleries, including the Organized Crime Today gallery, which features artifacts and stories about modern-day gangsters like John Gotti and Whitey Bulger, as well as law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime, such as the RICO Act and the Patriot Act. The museum also features a Firearms gallery, which showcases a collection of historic firearms used by gangsters and law enforcement officials, including Tommy guns and shotguns, and explores the history of gun control in the United States, including the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act.

● Architecture

The Mob Museum's building is a historic landmark in Las Vegas, and features a unique blend of Art Deco and Neoclassical architectural styles, similar to the Empire State Building and the United States Supreme Court Building. The building was designed by James A. Wetmore and Gilbert Stanley Underwood, and features a grand lobby with a marble floor and a coffered ceiling, similar to the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress. The building's exterior features a granite façade with limestone trim, and is adorned with ornate details such as carvings and moldings, similar to the United States Capitol and the White House. The museum's architecture has been recognized with several awards, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Preservation Award and the American Institute of Architects' AIA Honor Award, and has been featured in several publications, including Architectural Digest and Preservation Magazine.

● Collections

The Mob Museum's collections feature a wide range of artifacts related to the history of organized crime in America, including firearms, documents, and personal effects belonging to infamous gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. The museum's collections also include artifacts related to law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime, such as badges and uniforms worn by FBI agents and police officers, including Eliot Ness and J. Edgar Hoover. The museum's collections are managed by a team of curators and conservators who work to preserve and interpret the artifacts for the public, and are supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum's collections have been recognized with several awards, including the American Alliance of Museums' AAM Award for Excellence and the International Council of Museums' ICOM Award for Outstanding Achievement, and have been featured in several exhibitions, including the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History and the Library of Congress.

● Impact

The Mob Museum has had a significant impact on the city of Las Vegas and the wider community, attracting over 1 million visitors per year and generating over $20 million in revenue for the local economy, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Nevada Department of Tourism. The museum has also partnered with several local organizations, including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, to provide educational programs and community outreach initiatives, such as the National Crime Prevention Council and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The museum's exhibits have been recognized with several awards, including the American Alliance of Museums' AAM Award for Excellence and the International Council of Museums' ICOM Award for Outstanding Achievement, and have been featured in several publications, including The New York Times and USA Today. The museum has also been recognized for its contributions to the field of museum studies, including the American Alliance of Museums' AAM Award for Excellence in Museum Education and the International Council of Museums' ICOM Award for Outstanding Achievement in Museum Management.

Category:Museums in the United States