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The Mob Museum in Las Vegas is like Mafia School with a Speakeasy

October 27, 2025 / 0 Comments

Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler

Once upon a time, I worked for a South Philly political rag of a newspaper called the Philly Record. I was assistant editor and also there to bring some new fangled social media and ideas to the joint. The owner, the late Jimmy Tayoun, was once was a ward leader, Democratic member of Philadelphia City Council and of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He also had quite the rap sheet afterwards as he spent 40 months behind bars for: obstruction of justice, mail fraud, tax evasion, racketeering, taken bribes, paid bribes, and told an ex-associate to lie to a grand jury. So imagine an even younger, sassier Cassie walking into that job… we would butt heads weekly and my manager editor would chuckle at our interactions as I don’t take shit from anyone – mob ties or not. I’m almost certain he was bipolar – one minute laughing gleefully and the other yelling at the top of his lungs about some bullshit.

See Jimmy couldn’t serve in politics anymore because of his felon label so he did what any street smart politician would do – he opened up a newspaper and “legally” ran a business. That way you still have all your contacts from all over the city handing you money for “advertising” or whatever those books said. I was glad to collect my paycheck, not know and go… to get scoliosis fusion surgery and while out, it was sold to another Pennsylvania political outlet. Jimmy died in front of that newspaper building and he probably now haunts it. Honestly, he was bat shit crazy but a damn genius at the same time… isn’t that how it goes?

Jimmy would talk frequently about his beloved restaurant he once ran with belly dancers performing as he born to Lebanese immigrants. But what he really wanted – and am quite convinced he was in retrospect – was to be in the mafia. He would pop on his Frank Sinatra hat and talk a good game, legit a character from a movie sometimes. Large, South Philly Italian men would swing by yelling in conversation at the top of their lungs because that’s just how they talk. My years of newspaper chaos allowed me to tune it out while I kept working fortunately.

So it was only natural that I’ve had The Mob Museum on my bucket list for a while now. The lawlessness, the creative schemes… it all spoke to my investigative journalism nature of how could this underground network of murder and mayhem exist for so long? I soon found out the FBI partnered with the mafia to also go to crime school way back in the day – and perhaps hasn’t returned. So now it’s your turn to come to crime school and make your own conclusions at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada!

It’s an interactive and fascinating collection of exhibits, artifacts and high-tech audio-visual displays which is ever-growing and evolving to reflect new information and acquisitions. Topics examine the mob’s origins and persistence in modern times, its influence on the city and economy of Las Vegas and the overall portrayal of the mob in pop culture. Exhibits highlight important law enforcement victories while exploring the violence, corruption, conspiracy and murder that make up the Mob’s embattled timeline. If you get there early enough, parking is right next door for $8. We were also lucky enough to meet a real life former mafia man, listen to his wild tales and shook his hand. We also attending the FBI school where you figure out corpses contusions, police academy where you cosplay being a cop with a real human situation where you attempt to deescalate the situation with a glock in your holster. Wild stuff always in Vegas! And don’t miss The Underground Speakeasy as a perfect way to end your crime school day. We’ll start at the beginning.

The Mafia in the United States

The Mob Museum building at sunset. The best time to visit is when it first opens in the morning no matter what day! The Mob Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. unless posted otherwise.
The most important part is this sign at The Mob Museum. It wasn’t just the Italians… it was a huge, intricate network.
Get behind the glass and line up at The Mob Museum.
And get your mugshot taken at The Mob Museum. At least my cheekbones are popping with that lighting and no makeup.
A helpful map to show how the mob was connected all across the USA at The Mob Museum.
And how it became such a beast through generations at The Mob Museum.

The Mob Museum provides an insider’s perspective into organized crime’s most notorious players and those who fought back. Hear the infamous tales of mobsters like Al Capone, Dion O’Banion, George “Bugs” Moran, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, Sam Giancana, Joe Bonanno, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen, Tony Spilotro, John Gotti and Whitey Bulger. Then hear the other side with first-hand accounts from FBI agents like Joe Pistone, who went undercover as Donnie Brasco, and Jack Garcia, who infiltrated the Gambino family.

Learning all about the Arizona Club at The Mob Museum takes you back in time to dirt roads and shacks.
A tommy gun became the go to accessory because the military didn’t use them at The Mob Museum.
Of course lots of information about Al Capone at The Mob Museum.
Don’t forget to get electrocuted at The Mob Museum.
The courthouse cafe offers snacks, coffee and tea at The Mob Museum.
The courthouse room as it was originally at The Mob Museum with a presentation every so often. I assumed the man in front was a speaker later and alas, he was! Once a U.S. Post Office and federal courthouse, the striking neoclassical structure was the setting of one of the influential Kefauver Committee Hearings, aimed to expose organized crime in America.
Sands Casino was a big player of the days of glitz, glam and gangsters at The Mob Museum.
These man slots are just weird but were a trend in Vegas at The Mob Museum.
A whole room made of money to learn about money laundering at The Mob Museum.
Lots of celebrities adorned these walls at The Mob Museum also talking about the Fabulous Flamingo.
Not kid friendly as you will see photos of dead bodies at The Mob Museum.
Some more torture devices at The Mob Museum. People really loved chairs.
A nice selection of shivs, homemade murder weapons at The Mob Museum.
You can sign up for the FBI academy aka the Crime Lab at The Mob Museum for an extra fee.
We went through three real life cases of mobsters who died at The Mob Museum and figured out how.
We went through skull fractures and identified how each one died at The Mob Museum.
We also had our fingerprints scanned and matched with a mobster at The Mob Museum. We also did fake DNA scans and matches.
Very interesting to me was all this macabre at The Mob Museum.
The impressive 100 Years of Made Men wall at The Mob Museum.
However there were a few women on that wall at The Mob Museum. There is an amazing series on Netflix about this badass.
Some women on the wall we didn’t recognize too at The Mob Museum.
It was actually nice to see at least the mob wasn’t racist at The Mob Museum.
A nod to Philadelphia again at The Mob Museum. A lot of people talk about this case to this day.
Toward the end of the exhibit, new ways to make money are shown at The Mob Museum.
And some of the bling behind the poaching at The Mob Museum.
One of my favorite movies back in the day and soundtrack too is Pulp Fiction at The Mob Museum. Do they look real?
You cal also buy this pin ball machine at The Mob Museum.
A quick stop to the ladies room and a subtle reminder at The Mob Museum.
You can also download to app to see who you match with at The Mob Museum.
I then did another additional add-on experience at The Mob Museum, Use of Force Exhibition.

I put my belongings in a locker, strapped an empty glock to my holster and played target practice first. Then we did a video of me entering a 7-Eleven robbery, I did okay and the movie was giving 90s vibes. Then the weirdest part – a real live human who you have to talk down from a love affair ledge. Eventually you tell him to keep his hands where you can see them after glimpsing his gun, he gets glitchy and then you pull your gun on him and shocker, he pulled out his cell phone instead. I get why they had this experience however it felt like they were trying to prove a point that police are needed? That they are sometimes put in a rough place to make quick decisions. But what would have been cooler is shooting a tommy gun, I’m not gonna lie! Once done with that, it was time to head down to The Underground which is just a fancy word for basement. If you didn’t get enough of the museum, check out the virtual tour below.

The Underground Speakeasy

Don’t sleep on The Underground Speakeasy in the basement of The Mob Museum! Serving up whimsical cocktails inspired from the recipes of the Prohibition era, they also have a full food menu for those not so midnight munchies as well as jazz on certain nights. The Underground distillery replicates the sights, sounds and tastes of the time with a working copper still where The Mob Museum’s house moonshine is crafted. Make sure to book a tasting of the many moonshines available too! In true Las Vegas fashion, the Museum seamlessly melds intrigue with explanation, leading guests on a fascinating historical journey through the facts, fiction and everything in between. We hear there’s an outdoor garden opening as well!

This sign will lead the way and is on the left when you enter The Mob Museum.
The first things I noticed were of course the fashion at The Underground Speakeasy.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era but way too sassy for back then at The Underground Speakeasy.
We were seated next to this huge corner spot at The Underground Speakeasy.
The bar started buzzing soon after we arrived at The Underground Speakeasy.
I learned there’s a secret room behind this painting at The Underground Speakeasy.
Behind the gold framed flapper painting at The Underground Speakeasy.
How our drinks arrived at The Underground Speakeasy.
Mine came in a little book and was an old fashioned at The Underground Speakeasy.
The final photo after a generous pour from the flask at The Underground Speakeasy. The other drink was like a banana laffy taffy.
Some fun games include summoning demons at The Underground Speakeasy.
This was more for me to remember these fashions at The Underground Speakeasy.
Soon we were up next to visit the distillery at The Underground Speakeasy.
The fish seemed into this photo at The Underground Speakeasy.
We all piled into this room for the distillery tour at The Underground Speakeasy.
We were in the back near the mad scientist at The Underground Speakeasy with over 100 flavor options which you can buy at the speakeasy.
Hearing stories about moonshine was made was pretty rad and gross sometimes at The Underground Speakeasy.
How distilleries work behind the scenes at The Underground Speakeasy.
I thought I would like the blackberry but alas I did not at The Underground Speakeasy.
Our hostess came around with a couple rounds of tasters at The Underground Speakeasy.
Right before we left, a butterscotch to go which was my favorite at The Underground Speakeasy. My guest was not a fan of moonshine. They reminded us of speaker, author and American mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. speaking in the courthouse.
We almost skipped this part but so glad we didn’t at The Mob Museum. Frank’s blue eyes were shining in the light as he gripped audiences with his tales.
Frank Calabrese Jr. has Chi-Town tattooed on his forearm which sitting in the front I would catch glimpses. He was hyper aware, reading me like I was reading him – body language, movements, etc. It was wild.
To grow up in this life and be forced into it was not for Frank Calabrese Jr. His father sounded like a psychopath who lost his soul.
It was a family business for a while until Frank Calabrese Jr. broke that cycle.
He then lined up to sell his book and honestly, I could read that in a couple hours most likely.
Frank Calabrese Jr. is a lucky man who made it out alive and well but the things he’s seen… we can only imagine.

The Mob Museum, short for the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, takes guests on a world-class journey through true stories that chronicle the history of the Mob while exploring the age-old dichotomy of “good guys vs. bad guys”. Part of the National Register of Historic Places, the 41,000-square-foot building includes nearly 20,000 square feet of exhibition space on four floors in addition to a specialty retail store, special event space, educational areas and offices. Put it on your Vegas bucket list and plan at least half a day to explore more!

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