January 20, 2012
Nevada Yesterdays
 

Mob Museum

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Las Vegas CourthouseNearly 80 years ago, a courthouse in Las Vegas opened for business. And, when the building opens for the second time, its past may play a role in its future.

The building opened November 27, 1933, at Third and Stewart, just two blocks from Block 16 where prostitution went on openly. Although close to a red-light district, the government allowed it to continue until nine years after the courthouse opened.

The courthouse served as the federal building until the late sixties and was the scene of much exciting history including the Senator Kefauver hearings on organized crime (See Also: The Kefauver Hearings in Las Vegas on KNPR's State of Nevada); a few trials involving Las Vegas Sun publisher Hank Greenspun; and cases argued by former Las Vegas mayor, Oscar Goodman.

It was Oscar Goodman who decided to turn the building into The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement.

Our essays are written by Michael Green, professor at the College of Southern Nevada. Nevada Yesterdays is funded by the Nevada Humanities and dedicated to the memory of Frank Wright.

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