Imagine walking into a boarded-up courthouse, its windows gone and walls crumbling, and having the opportunity to help bring it back to life. In this episode of Women Who Saved History, host Claytee White and scholar Su Kim Chung speak with Ellen Knowlton, former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Division, about her journey from FBI service to founding chair of The Mob Museum’s board. Ellen recounts how she was recruited by Mayor Oscar Goodman, her mission to ensure the FBI’s story was told accurately, and the challenge of transforming a neglected federal building into a world-class museum. She shares vivid memories of restoring original features, from rediscovering the courtroom’s deep red leather doors in the basement to bringing back the building’s brass mailboxes and historic light fixtures. Ellen also reflects on the museum’s role as a community resource, educating visitors about the gritty reality of organized crime and keeping Nevada’s history alive for future generations. Listen to hear how one woman’s dedication helped shape one of Nevada’s most important historical spaces!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Ellen was recruited by Mayor Oscar Goodman to join the museum project.
• Her path from business major to FBI Special Agent in Charge.
• The mission: accurate FBI portrayal and not glamorizing organized crime.
• Ellen’s first impressions of the abandoned courthouse and its historic significance.
• Restoring original features: red leather doors, brass mailboxes, and light fixtures.
• Overcoming community skepticism and earning trust for the project.
• Building a museum with rigorous fact-checking and historical integrity.
• The Mob Museum’s role as a community hub with programs and panels.
• Educating visitors on the gritty reality of organized crime and its effects.
• Ellen’s pride in the museum’s success and its lasting impact.
• Commitment to evolving exhibits to reflect ongoing organized crime history.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ellen Knowlton oral history interview | UNLV
The Mob Museum

The Mob Museum Advisory Council

The FBI

'Holding their own: Women special agents valuable to FBI’s mission'

Vote Smart | Facts for All

Oscar Goodman

Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project

Richard Bryan

Richard Bryan | UNLV

Claytee White
Su Kim Chung

Erica Vital-Lazare

Women of Diversity Productions Inc.
Nevada Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities

Caesars Entertainment

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