Back in the day, not even Vegas' neon lights could distract Americans from Sin City's darker side; today, The Mob Museum sheds light on the city's pervasiveness in the 20th century gangster era. Las Vegas' former federal courthouse – located in the downtown area a few blocks northeast of the Fremont Street Experience – now houses distinct interactive exhibits devoted to exposing America's mob history.

Visitors to the museum will learn about such notorious gangsters as Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel and John Gotti and the dedicated G-men and FBI agents, like J. Edgar Hoover, Eliot Ness and Harry Anslinger, who worked to quell crime across the country. The Mob Museum walks travelers through a detailed history of mob activity in the U.S. and around the world, from the rise of organized crime families to the intricate gambling scams still perpetrated today. Recent visitors said they found the staff to be extremely knowledgeable and the exhibits to be in-depth and well curated.  

The Mob Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas). General admission is $23.95 for adults (save a few bucks by buying online in advance), $13.95 for children ages 11 to 17 and children 10 and younger can enter free of charge. Guided tours are available for an additional $10 and last about 90 minutes; audio tours are also for an additional $4. Combine a trip to the Mob Museum with a visit to the Neon Museum for $32.00. To learn more, check out the Mob Museum's website.