Las Vegas wasn't born on the Strip but Downtown, and much of its history was written by the mob and the people who pursued it. The Mob Museum, officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, tells that story inside the old federal courthouse where, in 1950, mobsters were called to testify before a Senate committee. It's the museum travelers recommend most often in forums, and one of the few Las Vegas outings that has nothing to do with gambling. Below: Mob Museum ticket prices, hours, how long it takes, the basement speakeasy and how to get there, with information checked on November 11, 2026.
Quick facts
- General admission. From $37.95 per adult; the Deluxe and Premier passes, with interactive experiences, cost $49.95 and $54.95.
- Discount. $7 off if you enter before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m., for non-Nevada residents (blackout dates apply).
- Hours. Daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Address. 300 Stewart Avenue, Downtown Las Vegas, two blocks from Fremont Street.
- Time needed. One to three hours, depending on how much you read.
Why this building and no other
The museum occupies a 1933 neoclassical building that served as a post office and federal courthouse. In November 1950 the committee led by Senator Estes Kefauver, touring the country to investigate organized crime, arrived in that very courtroom; its hearings, televised in other cities, were the first time millions of Americans watched mobsters explain (or refuse to explain) their business. The courtroom has been restored and is part of the visit.
The museum opened on February 14, 2012, the anniversary of Chicago's St. Valentine's Day Massacre. That's no coincidence: one of its most talked-about pieces is the brick wall from that 1929 garage, bullet marks and all.
What's inside
The route starts on the third floor and works down. It isn't limited to Las Vegas: it begins with the early 20th-century mob in New York and Chicago, moves through Prohibition and ends with how mob money built the first casinos on the Strip, with names like Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo. There are mug shots, weapons, real wiretaps and trial footage.
The other half of the story belongs to the lawmen: the FBI, prosecutors and local police. That balance is what separates it from a carnival attraction about gangsters. There are also galleries on organized crime today, from drug trafficking to cybercrime.
The experiences people remember most are interactive:
- The Crime Lab, where you analyze evidence from a case.
- The use-of-force training simulator, which recreates police training scenarios with split-second decisions.
- The original electric chair from a prison, more unsettling than you'd expect.
Some of these are included in the Deluxe and Premier passes and not in general admission. If they interest you, check online what each covers before paying.
The characters you'll meet
It helps to arrive with a few names in mind, because the museum assumes you know them. Al Capone, Chicago's boss during Prohibition, who ended up in prison for tax evasion, not murder. Bugsy Siegel, who pushed the Flamingo hotel through in 1946 and was killed the following year in Beverly Hills. Meyer Lansky, the financial brain who moved money between Havana and Las Vegas. And on the other side, prosecutors and agents who used wiretaps and the RICO law to dismantle the families in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Las Vegas section explains something that surprises many visitors: how union pension funds financed casinos the mob secretly controlled, and how the "skim," stealing cash before it was counted, is what finally led to the big convictions. If you've seen Scorsese's Casino, you'll recognize the real story behind it.
The speakeasy and distillery in the basement
In the basement is The Underground, a Prohibition-themed speakeasy with a working distillery that makes its own spirits. It's open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. After 5 p.m., guests must be 21 or older.
Plenty of people search for the "speakeasy password," because the entrance mimics a secret door. The password changes and is given to museum visitors or posted on social media; no need to guess. If you're only going to the bar without a museum ticket, ask at the box office how to get in that day.
How to pay less
General admission is reasonable by Las Vegas standards, but you can trim it:
- Go early or late. Before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m., visitors from outside Nevada save $7 on general admission and the higher passes. The museum is also busiest between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., so you win twice.
- Buy online. The museum recommends booking ahead to secure your time slot, especially on weekends.
- Nevada residents pay $19.95 for general admission.
Tickets are for the day you choose. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
How to get to the Mob Museum
The museum is Downtown, about 8 kilometers from the big casinos on the Strip. The usual options:
- The Deuce bus. It runs along Las Vegas Boulevard 24 hours a day and reaches the Bonneville Transit Center Downtown; from there it's about a 15-minute walk.
- Uber or Lyft. About 15 to 20 minutes from the middle of the Strip, depending on traffic.
- Car. There's paid parking next to the museum and on Downtown streets.
From Fremont Street it's a five-minute walk, so the natural move is to combine them: the museum in the afternoon and Fremont at nightfall, when the light show starts.
Is the Mob Museum worth it?
If you're interested in history, gangster films or simply want to understand why Las Vegas is the way it is, yes. It's a serious, well-designed museum with a lot to read, and that's its weak point: with young children, or if you don't like reading panels, it can drag. All ages are welcome, although some rooms show crime-scene photos that aren't for the youngest.
On a three- or four-day trip, it fits nicely into your Downtown afternoon. And if you want height the next day, the STRAT is halfway between Downtown and the Strip.
Tips for the visit
Start at the top, as intended; going in reverse, the story doesn't make sense. Photography is allowed. There's an audio tour for those who'd rather listen than read. Big backpacks get in the way in the narrow rooms; travel light. And for a crowd-free visit, the first hour of the day is the quietest.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get into the Mob Museum in Las Vegas?
General admission starts at $37.95 per adult, according to the official site in November 2026. Before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m., non-Nevada residents pay $7 less.
How long does it take to go through the Mob Museum?
One to three hours, according to the museum. Two hours is typical.
Is the Mob Museum worth it?
Yes, if you're interested in the history of the mob and of Las Vegas. It's one of the city's best-rated museums.
What are the Mob Museum's hours?
Daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Underground bar is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Where is the Mob Museum?
At 300 Stewart Avenue, Downtown Las Vegas, two blocks from Fremont Street.