Hot Springs, Arkansas: Gangster Museum of America

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Address:: 510 Central Ave., Hot Springs, AR
Directions:: On the northwest edge of downtown. On Hwy 7/Central Ave. just south of its three-way intersection with Park and Whittington Aves.
Hours:: Su-Th 10 am - 6 pm, F-Sa 10 am - 9 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 501-318-1717
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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It really is the Gangster Museum of Hot Springs, which was Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas (1920-40). Weapons of killers, slot machines from local casinos, and other local vice memorabilia.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [04/16/2008]

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Jail cell scene.

Gangster Museum of America

Lots of interesting stories of life in Hot Springs in the 1920s and '30s. A few pieces of memorabilia throughout help drive the stories home.

[Luv2RV, 10/09/2019]

Gangster Museum of America

The Gangster Museum of America chronicles the history of Hot Springs as gangland's open city in the 1930's and 1940's. About half of the museum consists of audiovisual displays and narrations of the stories of figures of crime. The rest is an assortment of antique gaming devices and period weapons.

Some of the exhibits are hands-on, which is always a plus for a museum. You can pull the arm of a 1940's slot machine or take a spin at the roulette wheel, and at the end of the tour the visitor can handle a legally disabled tommy gun.

This museum also has a pretty good gift shop for all of your gangster type souvenirs.

[Thomas Phalen, 01/16/2010]