The Kefauver Hearings
The building at 300 Stewart Avenue was built in 1933 as the United States Post Office and Courthouse. For nearly two decades, it served as a standard federal building in downtown Las Vegas. Then, on November 15, 1950, Senator Estes Kefauver brought his Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce to the city.
In the very courtroom that is now the museum's centerpiece, Kefauver grilled mob figures and their associates about organized crime's grip on Las Vegas. The hearings, televised nationally, were the first time most Americans saw the scale of mob influence in America. An estimated 30 million viewers tuned in across the country, making Kefauver a household name and putting Las Vegas's underworld connections under a national spotlight for the first time.
The Museum
The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement — The Mob Museum — opened on February 14, 2012. The date was chosen deliberately: it was the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the most infamous mob hit in American history. Former mayor Oscar Goodman, himself a former mob defense attorney, was instrumental in bringing the museum to Las Vegas.
The museum spans three floors and covers the history of organized crime in America, with special emphasis on Las Vegas. Exhibits include the actual wall from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre — the brick wall from the SMC Cartage warehouse at 2122 N. Clark Street in Chicago, where seven men were gunned down on February 14, 1929. Other highlights include an FBI wiretapping station, Whitey Bulger's gun, and interactive exhibits on forensic science. The basement features a fully operational speakeasy and a working distillery where visitors can sample craft spirits.
Key Facts
Kefauver Hearings
On November 15, 1950, Senator Kefauver held nationally televised mob hearings in this courtroom. An estimated 30 million Americans watched, exposing organized crime's reach.
St. Valentine's Day
The museum opened on February 14, 2012 — the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre — deliberately linking the museum to the most infamous mob event in history.
The Massacre Wall
The actual brick wall from the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago is on display. It's one of the most significant crime artifacts in the world.
The Speakeasy
The basement houses a working speakeasy bar and distillery. Visitors can sip craft cocktails in a Prohibition-era setting beneath the museum.
What's There Now
Visiting The Mob Museum
Address: 300 Stewart Avenue, Las Vegas, NV (downtown)
Status: Open daily. Admission charged.
What to See: Allow 2–3 hours. The courtroom where Kefauver held hearings is preserved and accessible. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall, FBI wiretapping exhibits, and the basement speakeasy are highlights. Interactive forensic science exhibits make it engaging for all ages.
Nearby: Walking distance from Fremont Street Experience, the El Cortez Hotel, and other downtown Las Vegas historic sites.
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