On a recent field trip to Las Vegas, Nevada our SensoryCo “scientists” scheduled a trip to the Mob Museum of Las Vegas. Billed as an immersive experience, we wanted to engage with the subject matter, see how or what, if any, sensory effects enhanced the exhibits and learn a thing or two about organized crime in the U.S. Most people identify the term mobster with the Italian Mafia. Film and television crime shows such as the Casino, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos, certainly perpetuate this stereotype. However, the Mob Museum of Las Vegas does an excellent job showcasing the history of organized crime in America across all demographics.
While located in downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum is officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. It is housed across three stories in a historical building that was home to the former federal courthouse and United States Post Office. Built in 1933, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
We began our excursion with a trip in an old-fashioned elevator down to the basement…a mob Speakeasy styled bar called “The Underground”. According the their website: Advocates of Prohibition believed its passage in 1920 would usher in a new era of healthy living, family harmony and political integrity. In fact, the drinks kept flowing, and Prohibition fueled the growth of organized crime and political corruption. Speakeasies sprouted by the thousands, cultivating jazz music, dance crazes and the rise of the flappers – young women who embraced bold fashions and liberated behavior. Mobsters profited, while paid-off police and politicians looked the other way. The Underground at The Mob Museum is a living exhibition, encompassing the culture of Prohibition and evoking the grit and glamour of the Roaring ’20s.
Raise a glass to the past, drink what they drank and remember – you were never here.
The sensory effects in this area included sights, sounds, and taste. Dark mood lighting and rich plush lounge furnishings set the tone for overall Prohibition era vibe. Reminiscent of a 20’s inspired Speakeasy, the interior has an upscale flare with the wait staff clothed in black and white formal wear. Vintage apparel, newspaper articles, and notorious mobster photos adorn the walls while the background music plays thematic tunes. We passed a well-healed bouncer on the way to the Prohibition era inspired bar with a glass top that housed mop memorabilia. Our bartender treated us to Spinach & Artichoke Dip while we waited for our hand-crafted cocktails reminiscent of the time. The menu offers opportunity to indulge in classic cocktails as well as curated food that reflects the history of the dish. You can also sample whiskey and taste their in-house distilled “Moonshine” as well.
A Perfect Prohibition Era Pairing
Giggle Water
Seasonal Fruit-Infused Vodka, Lillet, Bitters, Sparkling
“Giggle Water” was one nickname for illegal alcohol. Our creation combines fruit-infused vodka with Lillet plus sparkling wine similar to the French 75, a popular 1920s gin and bubbly drink.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip with toasted pita
In 1935, New York City Mayor Fiorella La Guardia banned artichokes after “The Great Artichoke War” gripped the city. The war occurred as Ciro “Artichoke King” Terranova took hold of the city’s artichoke market and began importing the cheap vegetable from California to satisfy NYC’s Italian immigrant communities. Between 1925 and 1935 Terranova was estimated to have made a million dollars a year on the racket.
After happy hour, we were escorted upstairs to enter the Crime Lab. This is an interactive experience that challenges guests to solve a crime using forensic science, deductive reasoning, and technology. This mediated experience allows you to explore the work of forensic scientists, fingerprint analysts, DNA profilers, and medical examiners who determine how a crime is committed and secure evidence to the case. We were also given the opportunity to conduct our own ballistics analysis. There is also a Firearm Training Simulator that offers an immersive training experience where you will make split-second decisions that law enforcement officers encounter daily on the job. A trainer will lead you through video training and live role-playing scenarios. The sensory effects in these settings included sight, sound, and touch.
The Courtroom Experience, where visitors can witness reenactments of the 1950’s hearings on organized crime, and the Educational Exhibit did not offer any sensory effects beyond audio and visual cues. The exhibit features numerous interactive exhibits, artifacts, and multimedia presentations that showcase the history of organized crime in America, particularly its impact on Las Vegas. In addition to exploring the mob’s influence, the museum also highlights the efforts and achievements of law enforcement agencies in their ongoing battle against organized crime.
We ended our tour with stop in their “gift shop” that held many treasured souvenirs, books, and t-shirts. While we found the overall experience educational and engaging, we noted that there were many opportunities to add “smells” as a sensory effect to enhance the immersive experience. Our “scent scientists” would apply the scents to the atmosphere with aroma examples including:
- The smell of old books
- The faint scent of cigars
- Corpse smell
- Gun powder scent
- Laboratory smell (clean/sterile)
Our overall assessment was that adding smell to the Mob Museum immersive experiences would definitely add a distinctive layer to the ambiance. Adding smell to the existing sensory effects would allow visitors to authentically explore the fascinating world of crime and law enforcement.