The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement fills a restored 1933 federal courthouse downtown, with the real St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall, the Kefauver hearing courtroom and a basement speakeasy.
The Mob Museum, officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, opened on 14 February 2012 in the former Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse. The neoclassical building on Stewart Avenue dates from 1933 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The federal government sold it to the city for $1 on condition that it be restored for cultural use. The building is part of the story: its second-floor courtroom hosted one of the 1950–51 Kefauver Committee hearings into organised crime, and that room is now the museum's centrepiece.
The self-guided route starts on the third floor and works down. Along the way you will see the actual brick wall from the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. Exhibits cover Prohibition, the Mob's role in building Las Vegas, casino skimming, wiretapping and the law-enforcement side of the fight.
Interactive stations include a crime lab on forensic science and a use-of-force training simulator that puts you in a police officer's position. Newer galleries on organised crime today bring the story up to the present. It is text-heavy and detailed, which is why people who like history routinely spend three hours here.
In the basement is The Underground, a working distillery and speakeasy-style bar. It opened in 2018 and makes its own moonshine. You can drink there after your visit, and the bar is also open in the evening. An audio guide is available for a small fee. The museum recommends ages 12 and up because some images and subjects are graphic. Children under 14 must stay with an adult.
The museum is a few blocks from Fremont Street, so it fits neatly into a downtown day with the Neon Museum and the Fremont Street Experience. It opens daily from 9am to 9pm, so an evening visit is a good way to avoid tour groups. A small lot next door charges for parking. If it is full, the Downtown Grand, Main Street Station and El Cortez are close by.
What to expect
The experience
You are inside a 1933 federal courthouse and post office, and much of the original detail survives. The restored second-floor courtroom, where a Kefauver Committee hearing was held in 1950, is the highlight for most visitors. Allow time to sit in it and watch the short presentation.
Best time
Afternoon, so you can follow it with the Neon Museum at dusk.
How long
Two to three hours. Rushing it in an hour means skipping most of the detail.
Tips
Key exhibits include the St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall, sections on Las Vegas casino skimming and the Mob's founding role in the city, and the federal response to organised crime. There are hundreds of artefacts, from weapons to surveillance gear. Hands-on stations include a crime lab where you work through forensic evidence and a use-of-force training simulator. Some experiences have small add-on fees or limited capacity, so check on arrival. The basement speakeasy and distillery serves cocktails and its own moonshine. It is a good place to finish a visit, and it is also open in the evening if you only want a drink. The museum is open daily 9am–9pm, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The route is self-guided, and an audio tour is available for a small fee. Photography is allowed if it does not disturb others. The building is fully accessible. The Underground speakeasy in the basement, for a drink after the tour.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History fans, true-crime readers and anyone who wants to understand how Las Vegas actually came to exist.
- Families
- Best for older children and teens interested in history or true crime; some exhibits cover violent crime.
- Couples
- Finish with a drink at The Underground speakeasy in the basement.
- Pair with
- Spend the day downtown: the Mob Museum in the afternoon, the Neon Museum at dusk, then the Fremont Street Experience.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours. Rushing it in an hour means skipping most of the detail.
Good questions
How long do you need at the Mob Museum?+
Most visitors spend two to three hours. Serious history readers can easily spend longer, because the exhibits are detailed and text-heavy.
Is the Mob Museum suitable for children?+
The museum recommends ages 12 and up because of graphic subject matter, including crime-scene images. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Is the courtroom real?+
Yes. The museum is inside the 1933 Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse, and its second-floor courtroom hosted one of the Kefauver Committee hearings on organised crime in 1950.
What is The Underground?+
A speakeasy-style bar and working distillery in the museum's basement, opened in 2018. It makes its own moonshine and serves cocktails, and you can visit after touring the exhibits.
What are the Mob Museum's hours?+
Daily from 9am to 9pm, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Evening visits tend to be quieter than late mornings.
