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The Mob Museum to Commemorate First Anniversary This Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, The Mob Museum, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, celebrates its one-year anniversary. The Museum opened on Feb. 14, 2012, coinciding with the anniversary of the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929—an artifact of which is part of the Museum’s collection. 

In conjunction with its anniversary celebration, on Feb. 14 the Museum is offering a commemorative collectible pin to the first 1,000 guests who visit and a special line-up photo opportunity with Valentine’s Day messages such as “Just Married” and “It’s Complicated.” An oversized post card will also be displayed in the lobby for guests to leave their well wishes. In addition, locals are encouraged to visit the Museum on Saturday, Feb. 9 to take the “Blood Oath” for United Blood Services: anyone who registers to donate blood in the Museum’s multi-purpose room between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. that day will receive two free tickets to the Museum. Donors are asked to make an appointment in advance online at  or by calling (877) 827-4376. Sponsor code: MobMuseum.

In less than one year, The Mob Museum has become a world-renowned, award-winning, must-see destination in Las Vegas, attracting more than 200,000 visitors, hailing from all 50 states and nearly 35 countries, in approximately 10.5 months of operation. The Museum has made a significant impression on neighboring businesses with more than $2.5 million spent within the local community.

As the only Museum dedicated to telling the incredible story of organized crime and law enforcement and its impact both on Las Vegas and the world, the Museum’s list of awards and accolades has accumulated quickly in just one year.

THE AWARDS
Since opening day, the Museum has garnered numerous accolades and awards, including:

• “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine’s 2012 Best of Nevada Readers’ Survey
• “Best Place to Take Tourists” by Las Vegas Weekly’s Readers’ Choice Awards
• “Best New Museum” by Seven Weekly Magazine’s 2012 Best of the City Awards
• “21 Things to Do in Las Vegas for Under $21” by Los Angeles Times
• “Las Vegas Bucket List: Start Exploring Now” by Las Vegas Review-Journal
• “9 Reasons to Visit Las Vegas” by CNNgo
• “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel Magazine
• “Las Vegas’ Best New Attractions for 2012” by Travel + Leisure Magazine
• “Uncommon Travel Gem” by AAA’s Home & Away Magazine
• “Outstanding Achievement in Lighting and Design and Audio Visual Design” by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT), Nov. 2012
• City of Las Vegas’ Mayor’s Urban Design Award (MUDA) – Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse category, Jan. 2013

THE ACCOLADES
Many journalists have also hailed the Museum:

“Just opened, the Mob Museum here packs a lot of punches ­ from Tommy guns, film clips, artifacts of real mobsters and a Hawaiian shirt worn by TV Mafioso Tony Soprano to part of the wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, to interactive exhibits that clue you into casino scams and mobster trivia.” Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY

“With artifacts, clever interactive displays, atmospheric exhibits and photographs and videos…we see how the mob maneuvered into businesses of pleasure, not releasing its hold until late in the 20th century.” Ed Rothstein, New York Times

“The Museum, housed in the old courthouse in downtown Las Vegas, was worth every penny …” John Kass, Chicago Tribune

“The Mob Museum…in downtown Las Vegas is a treasure trove of artifacts and history on organized crime in America.” Ellen Creager, Detroit Free Press

“There’s a fun section on the mob in popular culture, including movies that swung from romanticizing the Prohibition era gunslingers to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s efforts to get Hollywood and even comic book publishers to glorify his ‘G-Men.’” Gary Warner, Orange County Register

“Missing the Mob Museum would be a crime.” NPR

THE GUESTS
The Mob Museum has attracted prominent guests from politics and law enforcement, organized crime and popular culture. Notable political and law enforcement guests include U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Gov. Brian Sandoval, R.-Nev.; former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb; Sen. Estes Kefauver’s daughters Diane and Lindsay Kefauver; IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Richard Weber; former undercover FBI agent Jack Garcia; Professor Robert Blakey; Judge Lloyd George; former FBI agent Dennis Arnoldy; and former Las Vegas Metro officer and author Debra Gauthier.

Organized crime figures and their family members that have visited the Museum include Henry Hill, Frank Culotta, Andrew DiDonato, Vinnie “The Animal” Ferrara, Tony Montana, Michael Franzese, Robert Sedway (son of Moe Sedway), Meyer Lansky II (grandson of Meyer Lansky), and others. In addition the Museum has attracted a wide array of pop culture figures such as actors Regina King, John Schneider, Danny Pudi, Holly Madison and Richard Beltzar; sports figures former Redskins Quarterback Joe Theismann, New York Nicks NBA Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, and boxing legend Mike Tyson; TV and film personalities Morgan Spurloch (30 Days, Supersize Me), Rick Dale (American Restoration), the cast of Pawn Stars, Jared & Brandi Passante (Storage Wars), Zak Bagans (Ghost Adventurers), TV Host Kary Correa (ESPN Desportes) and TV Host Adrianna Costa (EXTRA).

THE MEMBERS
The Mob Museum’s membership has also grown to nearly 2,300 members. Members of The Mob Museum enjoy unlimited admission for an entire year and year-round benefits, they are the first to receive information regarding special events and speakers and the Member newsletter and enjoy a 10 percent discount in the Museum’s store. They also receive special recognition, invitations to an exclusive donor reception, VIP parking, additional guest passes and more. (To become a member, go to http://themobmuseum.org/get-involved/individual-membership/).

THE EVENTS
In 2012, The Mob Museum hosted over 40 special events, including weddings, receptions, corporate events, and other occasions. The Museum’s inaugural speaker series provided dynamic programming and delved deeper into the topic of organized crime on a national and international level. Plans for 2013’s lecture series are currently underway and will be announced shortly. In addition, the Museum had its highest one-day attendance of the year when it celebrated “Kefauver Day” on Nov. 15 and offered the local community free admission.

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and more than 600 artifacts, the largest collection of Mob and related law enforcement memorabilia under one roof. Admission is $19.95 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.