The Mob Museum, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will mark the occasion of its Fifth Anniversary with a series of celebratory events planned for Friday, February 10, through Tuesday, February 14, 2017. These events commemorate the Museum’s five successful and dynamic years, during which it welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors from all 50 states and 36 countries, injected more than $20.5 million annually into the downtown economy—all while accumulating numerous awards and accolades.
“The next five years will see us grow in more substantial ways, increasing our accessibility and enabling us to deliver more eye-opening, provocative and informative content to each of our audiences,” said Jonathan Ullman, executive director and chief executive officer, The Mob Museum.
The schedule of Fifth Anniversary activities includes:
Friday, February 10, 10 a.m.
Press Conference: Unveiling of New, Permanent St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Exhibit
Marking the Museum’s Fifth Anniversary, Ullman and Museum Senior Director of Content Geoff Schumacher will unveil a collection of St. Valentine’s Day Massacre artifacts that will be on permanent display at the Museum. Objects include bullets removed from the bodies of the seven victims, bullet fragments and cartridge cases retrieved from the garage floor as well as test bullets fired from the Tommy guns which later proved to have been used in the Massacre. In addition, the display features original coroner’s documents concerning the victims and reports prepared by Dr. Calvin Goddard, forensic scientist specializing in ballistics, who used pioneering ballistics testing techniques to identify the weapons used in the crime.
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
United Blood Services Blood Drive
To be held behind the Museum. To register, click here.
Saturday, February 11
11 a.m. – Noon; second presentation from 1 – 2 p.m.
Wiseguy Speaker and Book Signing: Chriss Lyon, “A Killing in Al Capone’s Playground: The True Story of the Hunt for the Most Dangerous Man Alive”
Lyon’s book details how the trail of Capone gangster Fred “Killer” Burke, a prime suspect in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, led from Chicago to the rural neighborhoods of Southwestern Michigan and Northern Indiana. The book uses never-before published police reports and interviews with family members of key witnesses to demonstrate how organized crime proliferated from the Prohibition Era through the mid-twentieth century, while revealing new information about the capture of Burke, who became the most wanted man in the nation. To be held in the Museum courtroom. Free with Museum admission and for Museum Members.
Sunday, February 12
1 – 2 p.m.
Panel Discussion: History of The Mob Museum Building
Featuring panelists Sam Tolman, architectural project manager, City of Las Vegas; Nancy Deaner, former director of cultural affairs, City of Las Vegas; and Robert Chattel, founder, Chattel, Inc., an historic preservation consulting firm which advised on the restoration of the historic federal building and post office now occupied by the Museum. To be held in the Museum courtroom. Free with Museum admission and for Museum Members.
Monday, February 13
7 – 9 p.m.
Screening of the Film “Capone”
To be held in the Museum courtroom. Free with Museum admission and for Museum Members.
Tuesday, February 14
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Free Admission for Nevada Residents and Buy-One, Get-One Admission for Non-Locals
11 a.m. – Noon; second presentation from 1 – 2 p.m.
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Evidence Presentations
Two Thompson machine guns used in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929 will be displayed and discussed by Lt. Mike Kline from the Berrien County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office, where the guns are stored. The two machine guns, numbered #7580 and #2347, were first positively identified by Dr. Calvin Goddard in December 1929 after investigating many Thompson guns found in the Chicago area. These two guns represent the only guns ever scientifically proven to be part of the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. To be held in the Museum courtroom. Free with Museum admission or for Museum Members.
Noon – 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Book Signing with Chriss Lyon, “A Killing in Al Capone’s Playground: The True Story of the Hunt for the Most Dangerous Man Alive”
To be held in the Museum courtroom. Free with Museum admission or for Museum Members.
Noon – 8 p.m.
Celebration at The Commissary at Downtown Grand
The Commissary at Downtown Grand, located across Stewart Avenue from the Museum, will provide live entertainment, prize giveaways and food-and-beverage offerings from Freedom Beat and Triple George Grill for Museum guests.
Finally, as a special treat for Museum guests each day from February 10 through February 14, the first 10 Museum guests of the day will receive a commemorative chocolate package from Ethel M Chocolates. One out of the 10 packages given out daily will contain a special “golden ticket” redeemable for a grand prize. Five grand prizes will be awarded over the course of the five days.
Five Years of Museum Facts
- $20.5 million annually Economic impact on Downtown Las Vegas
- 1.3 Million Number of visitors
- 26,000 Number of audio tours taken
- 4,800 Number of students who have participated in Investigating History educational outreach program
- More than 2,000 Number of new artifacts acquired since opening
- 1,500 Number of Museum Members
- 410 Number of private events
- 120 Number of public programs, including Courtroom Conversations, Author Talks, Book Signings and Wiseguy Speaker Series
- More than 90 Number of volunteers
- 75 Number of employees
- 57 Number of weddings held
- More than 50 Number of awards received
- 24 Number of Community Safety Forum presentations, in partnership with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and sponsored by NV Energy
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides a world-class, interactive journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through more than 1,000 artifacts and immersive storylines. Whether you like it or not, this is American history. Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums,” USA Today’s “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits,” “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times, one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine. Admission is $23.95 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for online purchase, children, seniors, military, law enforcement, Nevada residents, and teachers. The Museum is open daily; visit the website for up-to-date operating hours. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org. Connect on Facebook at facebook.com/themobmuseum.org or Twitter @themobmuseum.z
