The House Always Wins:
How the Mob Built Vegas
March 13, 2026 – July 3, 2026
Las Vegas has earned its reputation as a global icon. However, long before mega-resorts, exquisite dining, and world-class entertainment, “Sin City” was a small desert watering hole on the journey west. The area grew from its humble beginnings with the help of the San Pedro, Los Angeles, & Salt Lake Railroad and Montana Senator William Clark, who auctioned off plots of land around the railway in the early 20th century. It was this auction that planted the seeds for Las Vegas.
From its earliest days, Las Vegas thrived on vice and underworld connections. Almost as quickly as the town was settled, red light districts and illegal gambling halls flourished. The American mob saw the town as an opportunity and took a gamble of their own when Nevada legalized gambling on March 19, 1931. Under the mob’s influence, Las Vegas became an experience, a destination for tourists to ditch the “real world” and forget about the ordinary for a time. From desert outpost to global entertainment icon, this exhibit explores notorious figures, early casinos, and the high-risk gambles that made Las Vegas what it is today.
Objects include:
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Alcatraz East hosts temporary exhibits, in partnership with outside organizations, related to crime and law enforcement topics.
If your organization is interested in proposing a temporary exhibit, please email .