Las Vegas film exhibition explores how Hollywood shaped the city’s global image, while new digital exhibits broaden public access to history
LAS VEGAS (January 2026) — The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will debut a new Las Vegas film exhibition that examines how Hollywood helped define the city’s global identity. At the same time, the Museum is expanding access to its collections with two free digital history exhibits available worldwide.
Opening Friday, Jan. 16, “Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen” traces how motion pictures portrayed Las Vegas as a destination of glamour, risk and reinvention. Through this Las Vegas film exhibition, visitors can see how cinema shaped public perception of the city long before it branded itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Las Vegas Film Exhibition Highlights Hollywood’s Golden Age
The Las Vegas film exhibition focuses on the city’s cinematic “Golden Age,” spanning from the 1940s through the 1960s. It features 11 rare original movie posters dating from 1941 to 1969. These posters illustrate how filmmakers across genres used Las Vegas as a dramatic backdrop.
Highlights include posters from iconic films such as Ocean’s 11 and Viva Las Vegas, both on loan from the private collection of Las Vegas businessman and collector Dan Tuntland. Together, these works show how Hollywood elevated Las Vegas into a symbol of style, intrigue and excess.
In addition, the Las Vegas film exhibition includes vintage lobby cards, historic production photographs and rare archival material. One key artifact is a Jan. 20, 1960, edition of the Las Vegas Sun, featuring front-page coverage of the filming of Ocean’s 11. A custom video montage also guides visitors through decades of on-screen portrayals, from film noir to modern productions.
Digital Exhibits Expand Global Access
Separate from the Las Vegas film exhibition, The Mob Museum has launched two new free online exhibits. These digital projects support the Museum’s broader initiative to expand public access and preserve history through technology.
The first exhibit, “The Battle for Las Vegas,” explores the struggle between organized crime and law enforcement during the 1970s and 1980s. This period marked a turning point that reshaped the city’s power structure and future direction.
The second exhibit, “This Building of Ours,” tells the story of the Museum’s historic U.S. Post Office and Courthouse. Built as Las Vegas’ first federal courthouse, the building hosted pivotal moments, including the 1950 Kefauver hearings that investigated organized crime in interstate commerce.
Collaboration Supports Education and Preservation
The digital exhibits were developed with support from student interns in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas History Department. These students assisted with digitization and metadata creation for the Museum’s upcoming digital asset management system. As a result, the collaboration strengthens education, scholarship and long-term preservation.
Importantly, these efforts allow audiences far beyond Las Vegas to explore the city’s history, organized crime and law enforcement stories.
Admission and Availability
“Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen” is included with regular Museum admission. Meanwhile, “The Battle for Las Vegas” and “This Building of Ours” are available to view online for free through The Mob Museum’s digital archive.
For more information about the Las Vegas film exhibition or The Mob Museum, visit themobmuseum.org.
About The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that presents true stories from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. Through immersive exhibits, rare artifacts and interactive experiences, the Museum offers a contemporary look at organized crime and law enforcement.
Located in downtown Las Vegas, the Museum features a Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator and the Underground Prohibition exhibit with a speakeasy and distillery. The Mob Museum is open daily. Visit the website for admission rates and hours.
The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
WEBSITE
https://themobmuseum.org
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