The Mob Museum Acquires Rare Artifacts From Depression-Era Outlaw John Dillinger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

L to R: John Dillinger Death Mask; Death Mask and Wooden Gun on Display in The Mob Museum; Dillinger’s Wooden Gun.
(Photos courtesy of The Mob Museum)

THE MOB MUSEUM ACQUIRES RARE ARTIFACTS FROM DEPRESSION-ERA OUTLAW JOHN DILLINGER

Collection Includes Wooden Gun Used in Jail Escape, Death Mask Cast at Morgue

For downloadable photos, click here

LAS VEGAS (September 2024) – The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces the acquisition of significant artifacts related to Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger. Among these objects is the infamous wooden gun Dillinger used to escape from the Crown Point, Indiana, jail, forever etching his name in criminal history.

The wooden gun, believed to have been smuggled into the jail by an investigator associated with Dillinger’s defense team, was instrumental in his escape on March 3, 1934. By brandishing the fake gun, Dillinger managed to imprison several guards and flee the jail, marking one of the most legendary jailbreaks in American history.

After the escape, Dillinger reunited with his girlfriend, Billie Frechette, in Chicago. He gave her the wooden gun and instructed her to deliver it to his father in Mooresville, Indiana. His father kept the gun until his death in 1943, after which Dillinger’s sister Audrey took possession of it. The gun then came into the hands of a family friend named Dave Catuno, who died in 2002. Catuno’s son Jonathan received the gun as part of his father’s estate. Dillinger historian Mark Love acquired the gun from Jonathan Catuno, and in 2023, the Museum successfully won the bidding of the gun in an auction. 

In addition to the wooden gun, the Museum acquired a rare original death mask of Dillinger, cast from a mold made at the Cook County Morgue by Harold May just 12 hours after Dillinger’s death at the hands of the FBI. This mask, one of only two produced by May, represents a significant piece of forensic and criminal history, offering a stark reminder of Dillinger’s infamous life and death.

The Museum’s new collection also includes original press photographs and newspapers from the time of Dillinger’s escape, providing important and compelling context to the display. These items join a world-class collection of personal belongings from other notorious crime figures, such as Al Capone’s Colt 1911 .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and his .38-caliber revolver.

A prominent figure in the criminal underworld, Dillinger’s bank robberies and subsequent jail escape compelled former President Franklin Roosevelt to expand the role of federal law enforcement, directly influencing the evolution of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover. Dillinger’s actions led to the transformation of the FBI into an armed force determined to confront violent criminals, marking a turning point in American law enforcement.

“With the acquisition of these Dillinger artifacts, The Mob Museum continues to provide visitors with distinctive opportunities to explore the personal stories and societal impact of the most infamous figures in criminal history,” said Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs, The Mob Museum. “Our exhibits bring this history to life, while demonstrating law enforcement’s evolution in its efforts to eradicate crime.” 

The death mask and wooden gun are part of a rotating mobile display on the Museum’s third floor and will go on permanent display in January. For more information on The Mob Museum and its historic collection, click here.

ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines. Numerous interactive exhibits include a Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator and Organized Crime Today exhibit. The Museum is also home to The Underground, a Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy and distillery. The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including beingnamed one of Tripadvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums” and a 2024 “Travelers’ Choice” Award recipient; one of Las Vegas Weekly’s “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History” and “Best Museum” of 2021, 2023 and 2024; Vegas Magazine’s “Best Historical Museum” of 2024; one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas;” USA Today’s “Best Museum in Nevada,” 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for “Best Las Vegas Attraction” in 2021 and 2022, “Top Five Best History Museums in the United States” in 2021 and one of its “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits;” named “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times and one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by FOX News. The Museum is a two-time winner of the Mayor’s Urban Design Award for Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum is open daily; visit the website for admission rates and operating hours. For more information, call (702) 229-2734, visit themobmuseum.org, or download the Museum’s free mobile app. 

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