Story
02-16-2012, 08:47 AM
It’s no secret the mob heavily influenced Las Vegas in the 1940s and ’50s as the city rose to prominence, but many famous mobsters had Vegas ties well into the early ’80s.
Nearly 30 years later, the fascination surrounding Vegas’ organized crime days hasn’t died. In fact, some could argue it has intensified with recent attractions, such as the temporarily shuttered Las Vegas Mob Experience at Tropicana. (The interactive attraction recently got a new name and manager after its previous owner filed for bankruptcy.) In the meantime, there’s a new attraction in town — the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or Mob Museum for short — opening Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/13/wander-through-mob-history-las-vegas/
LAS VEGAS: In one room, a ghastly wall of bloody, uncensored photos showcases the mob’s greatest hits.In another, visitors are taught to load a revolver.
And for when a gun just won’t do, an oddball collection of household items – a shovel, a hammer, a baseball bat and an icepick – show the creative side of some of America’s most notorious killers.
On the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Las Vegas honored one of its earliest relationships by opening a museum dedicated to the mobsters that made this desert city. There are Tommy guns, money stacks and a bullet-riddled brick wall from the 1929 massacre that saw Al Capone seize control of the Chicago mob.
Las Vegas has long been enamored with its gangster roots. Its longtime former mayor played himself in the mob flick “Casino,” and hotels often promote their nefarious origins. But the publicly funded, $42 million Mob Museum represents a new height in Sin City’s lawlessness devotion. Even the local FBI agents are in on it. “We wanted to make sure the truth came out,” said Ellen Knowlton, a former special agent in Las Vegas brought on to legitimize the downtown attraction.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2012/Feb-16/163413-vegas-museum-highlights-citys-gangster-roots.ashx#ixzz1mYYbEbRt
Nearly 30 years later, the fascination surrounding Vegas’ organized crime days hasn’t died. In fact, some could argue it has intensified with recent attractions, such as the temporarily shuttered Las Vegas Mob Experience at Tropicana. (The interactive attraction recently got a new name and manager after its previous owner filed for bankruptcy.) In the meantime, there’s a new attraction in town — the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or Mob Museum for short — opening Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/13/wander-through-mob-history-las-vegas/
LAS VEGAS: In one room, a ghastly wall of bloody, uncensored photos showcases the mob’s greatest hits.In another, visitors are taught to load a revolver.
And for when a gun just won’t do, an oddball collection of household items – a shovel, a hammer, a baseball bat and an icepick – show the creative side of some of America’s most notorious killers.
On the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Las Vegas honored one of its earliest relationships by opening a museum dedicated to the mobsters that made this desert city. There are Tommy guns, money stacks and a bullet-riddled brick wall from the 1929 massacre that saw Al Capone seize control of the Chicago mob.
Las Vegas has long been enamored with its gangster roots. Its longtime former mayor played himself in the mob flick “Casino,” and hotels often promote their nefarious origins. But the publicly funded, $42 million Mob Museum represents a new height in Sin City’s lawlessness devotion. Even the local FBI agents are in on it. “We wanted to make sure the truth came out,” said Ellen Knowlton, a former special agent in Las Vegas brought on to legitimize the downtown attraction.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2012/Feb-16/163413-vegas-museum-highlights-citys-gangster-roots.ashx#ixzz1mYYbEbRt