It's special Museum exhibits that follows the city's Organized Crime roots
By Patti Pietschmann, Travel Diva
Photos curtesy of Las Vegas Visitors BureauIt's the last thing Vegas visitors might expect to see since much of organized crime's influence on the gambling mecca's growth is often swept under the casino carpets. But yes, Virginia, there is a museum dedicated to gangsters who made Vegas what it is.
It's located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas on Stewart Avenue and Third Street (right by Main Street Station)--the former federal courthouse where the 1950-51 Kefauver committee hearings were held. , There are exhibits, photos and illustrations that provide an inside look at organized crime's impact not only in Las Vegas, but America and the world.
In fact there is a special exhibit that shows the real courtroom where the committee gathered. It's a dimly lit facility with historical clips on display on a big screen.
Additional law enforcement exhibits include a wire-tapping station where you can listen in on actual conversations that happened. See testimonies of FBI agents on audio-visual panel (AVP) screens and even try your aim with an FBI firearms training simulator. There's also a police lineup booth where visitors can step into and become "suspects."
The museum's most valuable artifact is the brick wall from Chicago's Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. The museum explains the murder of seven Moran gang members led by Al Capone's South Side Italian gang. The wall includes a 38-caliber Colt Detective special revolver, the only gun directly related to the shooting. This gun is believed to have belonged to Moran gang member, Frank Gusenberg.
Al Capone and the gang and guns but no roses
The original 'rat pack'
There is also 'stuff' that belonged to notable outlaws such as Al Capone, Charlie Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin Siegel, Sam Giancana, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen and Tony Spilotro, on display--along with guns, weapons, jewelry, personal belongings and hundreds of photographs.
