The Mob Museum, officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, celebrated its 10th anniversary with its first fundraising gala “Undercover of the Night” on Feb. 17 at the museum’s historic building in downtown Las Vegas. The museum can be booked for private meetings and events, with several function spaces and buyouts available.
Event Highlights
Co-chaired by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman and former Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, the event paid tribute to several undercover law enforcement agents and honored Joseph D. Pistone, a pioneering undercover agent who played a key role in more than 200 convictions by infiltrating the Bonanno and Colombo crime families in New York during the 1970s. His work is the subject of a bestselling book and the feature film “Donnie Brasco,” which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Along with enjoying gourmet action stations, delectable desserts, specialty cocktails, luxury auction items, and live entertainment, attendees also had the opportunity to explore exhibits and meet undercover agents. Guests were encouraged to wear costumes, which were all over the board from track suits to ball gowns.
Unique activations and entertainment took place throughout four floors of the historic building, including The Moonshiners taking the stage in The Underground speakeasy and distillery.
A one-of-a-kind live silent auction took place, where participants went home with prizes such as a SWAT Team Experience hosted by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and three-night hotel stay at Atlantis Bahamas.
Gala Reflections:
We had a chance to check in with Ashley Miller, vice president of marketing, communication and sales at The Mob Museum.
Meetings + Events: What was the reaction of attendees?
Ashley Miller: Hearing the praise from attendees of the gala about the Museum and the event is inspiring and rewarding … “greatest gala ever” and “staff members made us feel like royalty” were echoed repeatedly. The Mob Museum is housed inside a historic building and lends itself well to parties and events. We have the ability to transform all four floors of exhibits into a new journey for every attendee making it a remarkable and different experience on each floor when hosting an event. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin propelling toward the next 10 years and beyond.
M+E: What were you most pleased about regarding this first fundraising gala for the museum?
AM: The entire celebration surrounding the 10th anniversary of The Mob Museum was incredible. … It was a phenomenal evening where we honored undercover agents of law enforcement and offered attendees a variety of entertainment as well as active gourmet food and beverage options throughout four floors of the historic building.
M+E: Anything else?
AM: The organization continues to receive demand for significant events such as the gala, and we were elated to host such an unforgettable event. The funds raised during the Undercover of the Night Gala will enable us to create new programs and experiences, acquire and care for important artifacts, and share some of the most extraordinary chapters of American history and deliver on our mission as a nonprofit organization. The key tenant of our mission is honoring the accomplishments of law enforcement by celebrating acts of perseverance and heroism in combating organized crime.
About the Museum
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, provides a provocative, contemporary examination of the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines through hundreds of artifacts, immersive storylines and interactive exhibits such as a crime lab, flight training simulator and organized crime today exhibit. The museum also is home to The Underground, a Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy and distillery.
