Historic St. Valentine’s Day Massacre gun added to Mob Museum Exhibit

Thompson Submachine Gun used in St. Valentine's Day Massacre — The Thompson Submachine Gun used in St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. (Photo courtesy of The Mob Museum)

LAS VEGAS — A new display at the Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, showcases a Thompson submachine gun used in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on Feb. 14, 1929.

Amid Prohibition, members and associates of Chicago’s George “Bugs” Moran’s bootlegging gang were lined up against a wall and shot dead inside a garage at 2122 North Clark Street. While no one was prosecuted, Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit was widely suspected of ordering the hit.

The Thompson submachine gun, which goes on view today, joins the museum’s collection of artifacts related to the massacre, including the garage’s brick wall recovered by businessman George Patey in 1967.

The exhibit and new artifact underscore the museum’s mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime’s history and impact on the nation, through a responsible and historically accurate assessment of the complex social, political and criminal dynamics of the Prohibition era.

On long-term loan from the Berrien County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Department, the weapon was one of two Tommy guns recovered from the home of murder suspect and Al Capone associate Fred “Killer” Burke.

Ballistics testing conducted by forensic science pioneer Dr. Calvin Goddard matched the weapons to bullets found at the Chicago crime scene, confirming their role in the massacre that shocked the nation, and intensified efforts to combat organized crime, while acting as a tipping point, encouraging the reversal of Prohibition.

“While the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre remains one of the darkest chapters in organized crime history, this new addition to the exhibit is designed to educate the public about its lasting consequences and the historical efforts to confront violence,” said Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs, The Mob Museum.

Previously, Berrien County officials brought both Tommy guns to Las Vegas for single-day displays on the museum’s past anniversaries. With the launch of this new exhibit, one of the guns is now available for public viewing on an ongoing basis.