One of the coolest museums I have ever visited is the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. This museum has one of kind mob and law enforcement artifacts and interactive exhibits in a restored 1933 courthouse and post office. On the second floor of the building is the actual court where the Kefauver Hearings took place.
The Kefauver Hearings were coined because the United States Special Committee to Investigate Crimes in Interstate Commerce was headed up by the chairman, Senator Estes Kefauver. The purpose of the committee was to investigate organized crime and how it infiltrated interstate commerce. They held hearings in 14 cities including Las Vegas and had over 600 witnesses testify including some renown names such as Mickey Cohen, Frank Costello, and Virginia Hill. The original judges bench is there and it turns out it is reinforced with a steel plate.
The Mob Museum has several floors of interesting mob memorabilia and an interactive “Shoot Don’t Shoot” police scenario. It will really make you appreciate the job that law enforcement does every day. They do offer locals discounts of about $10 off per admission with a Nevada license. Bonus!
The only drawback is if you take my husband to the Mob Museum, you will spend the next few weeks watching Casino, Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas, The Godfather, and all other vintage mob movies. Oh well, it was worth it. Fugetaboutit.