Welcome to Part 4 of this Las Vegas Trip Report Series! We’re down to the last two installments of this series, but don’t worry we’ve still got a lot to cover. Today, we’re hitting up the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum, a crazy good Italian restaurant, and the most Vegas place ever! So strap in for another exhilarating installment of this Las Vegas trip report series.
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Good Kid MOB City
After our little stint at the casino, we then went to our next destination for the day: The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, also known as the Mob Museum. This was probably the museum I was most excited for. I love a good niche history museum, and with the way the mobs have influenced pop culture, I was curious to learn more about them.
The Mob Museum opened on February 14, 2012. It’s built in a refurbished courthouse and post office. Remnants of its post office and courthouse days can be seen throughout the building. The US Government actually sold the building to the city of Las Vegas for $1, with the caveat that the building had to be used for cultural purposes.
It’s located a short walk from Fremont Street. After going inside and showing our tickets, we were directed to the elevator that would take us to the 3rd floor. You start up there and then work your way down, passing through all the exhibits.
I have to say that, among the three museums we did during this trip, the Mob Museum was undoubtedly my favorite. It discussed everything from the origins of the mob in low-income, immigrant neighborhoods in big cities, to how they grew in influence because of the Prohibition and the rise of gambling, and to how they eventually fell because of whistleblowers, the advent of technology in police work, and the globalization of crime.
Artifacts featured in the Mob Museum include the real wall against which rival mobsters were shot by Al Capone’s men during the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, various artifacts from the Flamingo hotel, which was owned by mobster Bugsy Siegel, as well as Al Capone’s favorite handgun and Bugsy Siegel’s sunglasses. There were also more gruesome things on display, such as an electric chair and shives that were made in prisons.
Exhibits include sections based on the early mob, the rise of the mob to national dominance because of the Prohibition, how the mob controlled the police, efforts by the government to take down mobsters, victims and deaths attributed to mobsters, the mobster influence in Vegas, and the eventual downfall of these organizations.
This was really such an interesting museum. It explained everything very well and was arranged in a logical and understandable way. At the end of the Mob Museum they were even holding a presentation where a former member of the mob talked about their experience growing up in a mob family.
After visiting, we went down to the basement to get a drink at their hidden speakeasy called The Underground. It was here that we got a moonshine flight, which consisted of four different moonshines. What I realized from this experience was that moonshine is definitely not for me. It was incredibly strong and made me almost gag. It was an experience, though, and I’d recommend it to anyone visiting the museum.
Overall, this was probably my second favorite thing we did in Vegas (after the helicopter ride). It’s a must do if you want to understand more about Vegas or the mobsters and their effect on American history.
The Good Italian Place and a Velveteen Rabbit
After visiting the Mob Museum we drove to the Arts District to have dinner. We had reservations at Esther’s Kitchen, a highly recommended Italian place. When we got to the Arts District, we were a bit early so we walked around for a bit. It’s a cool little area filled with street art, shops, and restaurants. After walking around for a while, it was time for our reservation so we went to Esther’s Kitchen and were quickly seated.
We both loved this restaurant! Everything we had was insanely good. The thing they’re most known for is their bread, which comes with a variety of different sides. The bread was amazing and I feel like every table beside us also got it. Then the pastas we had were all delicious. The bread alone got me to love this restaurant, but the pastas were just as good. After having our fill, we paid our bill and headed to the Velveteen Rabbit.
Named after the children’s book, the Velveteen rabbit looks like a nondescript bar on the outside, but once you’ve stepped through its doors you’re transported into a posh, dark, yet glamorous space. We each ordered a drink and spent the next hour just relaxing at the bar. My drink was good, but it was a little strong. After chilling for a bit, we got back in the car and drove to the Neon Museum!
Shine Bright, Courtesy of Neon
We arrived at the Neon Museum, but realized that the parking lot was full. We got redirected to a secondary parking area a block away from the museum, and then walked the 2 minute walk to the museum. Founded in 1996, the museum contains old, decommissioned Neon signs that used to light the Strip and the surrounding areas of Las Vegas. They’re currently in the process of moving to a new location, so the museum won’t be in this area for much longer.
The lobby of the museum was actually the lobby of the La Concha Motel. It was donated to the museum and moved to where the museum currently stands in 2006. Once we showed our tickets to the front desk, they directed us to a side door and into the museum proper.
The museum stands on a 2-acre property and features hundreds of neon signs. Not all of them are lit up, however, as some of them are still being refurbished. This is a totally outdoor museum so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting.
There were neon signs designed by Tim Burton for a special exhibition years ago. There were some that belonged to restaurants, clubs, hotels, and casinos from all around Vegas. My favorite was the Moulin Rouge sign that seemed to span the length of the museum, as well as the Hard Rock Cafe sign. You have an option to take a 45-minute guided tour but we opted to just walk around.
Seeing all the neon signs lit up was pretty cool! Plus each Neon sign would have a placard that would give you some background information on the sign and the establishment it belonged to. This made it kind of like a Las Vegas history museum as well because of all the information on the different Vegas establishments. We circled the whole museum twice in about an hour.
Overall, this is a great little museum that is soon going to expand into a bigger space, which will make it an even more impressive attraction. I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about making a trip to Vegas.
After perusing the gift shop, we made our way out of the museum and to the Wynn Hotel to head to our final destination of the day.
Oh Delilah!
We made our way back to the strip and to the Wynn Hotel. We parked in their parking lot and entered the hotel. We were a bit early for our reservation, so we wandered the hotel for a bit, passing by the casino and some flower displays. We then found two seats near the entrance to our next destination: Delilah. We waited for a while, then went over to the entrance to check in.
We didn’t know that we were about to experience one of the most fun and authentically Vegas experiences you could possibly have.
After hanging in the Delilah lounge for a while, we were then directed to our table. The whole restaurant looked like those vintage, Vegas showrooms. There was a band playing jazz tunes, a singer accompanying them, and some Vegas showgirls with the large feather fans dancing. It was honestly such a sensory overload in the best possible way. We weren’t allowed to take photos but assume that it was just the most overwhelming but energizing experience.
We quickly ordered some of their famous chicken tenders. We were a bit skeptical about them at first. After all, how good could chicken tenders possibly be? But let me tell you, they were absolutely amazing. Tender, juicy, piping hot, just everything you want tenders to be. It was worth it to come here just for that alone.
And then of course the entertainment made it so much better. It was like those after hours shows people in Vegas would go to after the main show had finished. It was so much fun and felt like one huge party. And everyone around us felt important, which wasn’t surprising given how hard it was to score these reservations. I’m sad we didn’t stay long because we were just so exhausted, but it was the perfect way to end the day.
After paying the check, we left the Wynn, headed back to the Bellagio, and then went to bed.
Trip Report Conclusion
And that ends Trip Report #4! The last one, covering our last day in Vegas, will be coming soon!
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