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Given the recent infatuation with Prohibition-style bars, the timing seems about perfect for this small new museum that shines light on the role of bootleggers and gangsters in the 1920s and throughout U.S. history. It's located in a once-notorious speakeasy at 80 St. Marks Place, which happens to be down the block from one of the city's new-wave speakeasies, PDT (enter through a phone booth in Crif's Dogs).
The museum's main gallery won't be ready until late April or early May, but co-founder and curator Lorcan Otway has started giving informal preview tours that draw on his personal connection to the building—his father bought it from gangster Walter Scheib in 1964.
[+] Enlarge photo
Armed with hard hats, we went down to check out the basement's series of rooms, including a beer locker and the office of Scheib's partner, Frank Hoffman, who rigged it with a near-impenetrable door, radiator bars with copper wiring, and a phone system so that bartenders could alert him in the event of an FBI raid. We learned Hoffman also paid off business owners along First Avenue in order to dig a series of tunnels out through their basements onto the avenue.
Otway and the museum's co-founder, historian Eric Ferrara, are still uncovering new stories about what went on in the speakeasy. They've got ambitious plans for neighborhood walking tours (launching tomorrow, April 1) and eventual workshops, lectures, and historic reenactments.
Even the bar will be back in business soon—they've applied for a liquor license—which will also be dandy for patrons of Theatre 80, with which the museum shares the building.
Museum preview tours, Mon-Fri at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sat. at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.; $10 suggested donation, no reservations necessary.
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what a waste of time this museum is. they have great potential, but i wouldnt let my friends spend a PENNY here. who told this guy he could open a museum? thats like me saying I could open a museum. even though I have NOTHING TO DISPLAY. no. no. no. no. dont go.
Posted By Wendy Sapper on July 2, 2010, 9:44 PM
im reading now that it is $10 i went there with my son and wife they charged me $20 each for 35 mins on 8/6/10 what a rip off nice guy some nice things to see but this was not a very nice way to make more money ,shame shame shame .
Posted By richard motta on August 7, 2010, 2:39 AM
I went to the museum yesterday and LOVED IT! They had bullets from the Saint Valintine's day massacre investigation, John Dillinger's death mask, and the bullet that killed Pritty Boy Floyd. Also, there were video screnes showing newsreels and they had a very informative short film... I spent an hour in the museum BEFORE the tour of the speakeasy, which was GREAT! Mr. Otway very knowledgeable about the exhibit and he even gave us some great suggestions for other things to do in the area. This museum was truly memorable, I'd recommend it to anyone!
Posted By PacinoFan on August 28, 2010, 2:24 PM