Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

The Mob Museum

How city came by millions for projects
June 17, 2009
Facing declining revenue, a $150 million shortfall over the next five years and an inability to sell municipal bonds, city leaders were in a quandary last year over how to pay for their favorite downtown redevelopment projects.
A poster in a pedestrian walkway at Las Vegas City Hall chronicles the history of the old post office and federal courthouse building, left, the proposed site of the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, commonly called the "mob museum."
Tourism Commission backs bonds for downtown mob museum
June 16, 2009
The Nevada Tourism Commission today approved a resolution in support of a sales tax that backs bonds to develop downtown Las Vegas' mob museum. The resolution next goes to Gov. Jim Gibbons for final approval.
School Board frowns on mob museum, tourism district proposals
April 23, 2009
The Clark County School Board, tired of cutting school budgets to make up for lost revenue, voiced its reservations about a tourism improvement district the city of Las Vegas is proposing for a 4.5-acre parcel where Mayor Oscar Goodman wants to see a mob museum.
City sells $85 million in bonds to finance downtown projects
March 18, 2009
In the shadow of a recession and a nationwide credit crunch, the City of Las Vegas today sold $85 million in redevelopment bonds to fund downtown development projects officials hope will spur the local economy. The Las Vegas City Council unanimously voted today to sell the bonds to institutional investors.
A poster in a pedestrian walkway at Las Vegas City Hall chronicles the history of the old post office and federal courthouse building, left, the proposed site of the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, commonly called the "mob museum."
Mob Museum's $300,000 grant largest in county
March 13, 2009
The so-called Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas is going to receive a $300,000 grant toward restoration from the state Commission on Cultural Affairs. The museum in the old Las Vegas Post Office received the largest grant from the commission, which approved money for 28 projects. The Mob Museum originally asked for $900,000 but then pared back the request to $500,000.
Suggestion Box: Oscar, stop cutting off your nose
Suggestion Box: Oscar, stop cutting off your nose
Feb. 12, 2009
We’re as fascinated by our mayor as the rest of the free world, but we really feel the need to call him on his latest comment on the arts, specifically that he doesn’t see an art museum as necessary for Downtown. Really, Oscar?
A poster in a pedestrian walkway at Las Vegas City Hall chronicles the history of the old post office and federal courthouse building, left, the proposed site of the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, commonly called the "mob museum."
Mob museum walks on public tightrope
Feb. 3, 2009
Las Vegas’ proposed mob museum has taken some hits of its own in recent weeks, targeted on late-night talk shows and Capitol Hill as an absurd showcase for the likes of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, Meyer Lansky and Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro. Museum backers say the critics don’t get it. This won’t be some sideshow exhibit celebrating the mob’s role as a storied part of Las Vegas’ past. Rather, it will offer a serious examination of organized crime and law enforcement’s efforts to combat it.

A group of girls pass by a mermaid sculpture at Grapeland Water Park in Miami, which was among the projects ridiculed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Several cities seek stimulus money for museums
Feb. 3, 2009
Turn on “This Week with George Stephanopolous” or visit the National Press Club in Washington, and there’s Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky again questioning the use of potential stimulus dollars for “things like mob museums and water slides.”
This monument dedicated to Bugsy Siegel, in the Flamingo Hotel gardens, is the only monument in the world honoring a mobster and a murderer.
Lawyers, guns ... and money
Jan. 22, 2009
A legitimate mob museum at the beautiful, restored historic old federal building Downtown would be an enormous success for Las Vegas.
Got stimulus? We’ve got a project list
Jan. 17, 2009
As debate over the size and scope of a federal stimulus bill intensifies in Washington, regional leaders could soon be engaged in a turf war for their piece of the pie.
An artist's rendering shows a concept for exhibits at the mob museum proposed for downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman last week shot back at critics of possible federal stimulus funding for the museum, saying it will go forward with or without federal assistance.
Mayor returns fire over mob museum funding
Jan. 12, 2009
One of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s favorite downtown development projects, the mob museum, riled up a few Republican U.S. senators last week after they learned that the mayor had requested federal funds for the project.
The building where the mob museum is planned in Las Vegas is a former courthouse where one day of the Kefauver hearings on organized crime happened in November 1950.
Mob museum is Exhibit A for GOP leader
Jan. 6, 2009
Las Vegas’ proposed mob museum is a subject ripe for ridicule, and the Republicans here have held it up as just that. “We would like, on the spending side, obviously, to avoid funding things like a mob museums or water slides,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate.
Property owner gets a break on fine, but others shouldn’t expect the same
Oct. 3, 2008
City inspectors visited the dilapidated site on Jackson Avenue 44 times over a three-year period.
The building where the mob museum is planned in Las Vegas is a former courthouse where one day of the Kefauver hearings on organized crime happened in November 1950.
Oh, the irony: The former mob lawyer gets FBI support for mob museum
Aug. 17, 2008
In 2002, Mayor Oscar Goodman’s suggestion that the historic post office near City Hall be turned into a mob museum caused a minor uproar.
Top Left: Liberace-themed bags designed for younger audiences are for sale at the Liberace Museum in 2006. Top right: A collection of decomissioned neon signs from the Horseshoe is on display at the Neon Boneyard. Bottom left: Dave Hickey leads a tour in front of the painting "Step(In) Out" by Tim Bavington in the Las Vegas Art Museum in 2007. Bottom right: A Columbian mammoth skeleton commands space in the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society in Lorenzi Park in 2007.
Henderson museum plans taking shape
May 20, 2008
Henderson wants a museum and the city is in the middle of a nearly $200,000 study to determine its content, location and funding. City officials say they want a nationally recognized institution that will cater mostly to residents.