Museum of the American Gangster, Criminal history museum in East Village, Manhattan, US
The Museum of the American Gangster occupies a former speakeasy building in the Lower East Side and displays death masks, weapons, photographs, and original documents from organized crime history. The rooms preserve the character of the place and show objects directly connected to famous cases.
The building itself operated as an active speakeasy during Prohibition, an illegal bar frequented by notorious gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. The museum was founded in 2010 to preserve and tell this story at the site where it happened.
The collection shows how organized crime shaped American life and how that past remains woven into the fabric of this neighborhood today. You can see how visitors and locals engage with these stories in the space where they actually happened.
The space is compact, so one to two hours is enough to view all the displays and learn the stories behind them. The neighborhood is easily accessible by public transit and located in a walkable area with many other attractions nearby.
The museum holds objects that come directly from the scenes of famous crimes, including ammunition from actual investigations. These original pieces of evidence give visitors a direct connection to the cases that unfolded in this neighborhood decades ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
