The Mob Museum

Downtown Vegas

Yesterday, my friend and fellow Chicago Booth MBA Brian Kasal hosted a group at the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. I had never been. I knew about it because Patrick Gallagher designed the speakeasy in the basement. Patrick had designed many exhibits at the National World War Two Museum, where I was a member of the Board of Trustees. Patrick does some great work, and the speakeasy lives up to its billing.

We got a tour, and it was not what I expected. I expected a Hollywood blood and guts glorification of the Mob. It wasn’t that at all.

The museum was rooted in history. It was rooted in how it happened. One of the things I learned was how William Clark bribed the Montana legislature to become a U.S. senator. Clark developed the rail line from Montana to Jean, NV. It was to transport copper ore. Clark County, Nevada, is named after him.

He didn’t become a senator after he bribed people, but eventually he did. He is responsible for the 17th Amendment. That is the amendment that took the power of electing senators from state legislatures and put it in the hands of the people. Strict Constitutionalists will tell you that was the beginning of the end of America’s experiment with a Republic. As we see today, the Senate has devolved into a House of Representatives with longer terms. If we had Senators elected by legislatures, it would act as the cooling saucer, and I bet the SAVE Act would sail through.

After our tour, we heard a lecture from Frank Calabrese Jr. He was part of the Chicago outfit and survived. He wrote a book, “Family Secrets”. He talks about how organized crime doesn’t just destroy civic society, but it also destroys families and people. I asked him if he misses Johnnie’s Beef, and he does. Apparently, there is a great Italian deli in Inspirada over in Henderson. I will be making a trip.

You might think it is kitschy to go to a Mob Museum in Las Vegas. But it’s worth your time. It’s not a huge lift, and the information inside is very good. It will make you think.

Support me, donate to the campaign: JeffCarterNV.com