Did you know that Eliot Ness, the leader of the lawmen known as The Untouchables and one of the most famous and effective lawmen of the 20th century, lived the last year of his life in Potter County, Pennsylvania?
Wanting to learn more about his life and legacy, I was excited to check out the Eliot Ness Museum in downtown Coudersport.
The Eliot Ness Museum opened to the public in 2019, following the success of the annual Eliot Ness Festival, which is held every summer in town. The museum is located in the former Halloran’s Hardware building.
It tells the story of Ness’ life, largely focusing on his law enforcement career chasing down some of the country’s most wanted mobsters in the 1920s and 1930s. He’s best known for helping to take down Al Capone while working for the Department of the Treasury.
Because of this, one of the most notable displays in the museum is a diorama of the famous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre that Capone called for in Chicago in February 1929.
This display includes cutouts of the victims and information about the event, along with a historic car, one of several antique cars on display in the museum.
It’s worth noting that these antique cars don’t have anything specific to do with Ness, but do have a lot of good information about them on their signs. Those that love antique cars might enjoy visiting just to see these historic vehicles.
The museum also features a lot of information about Ness’ group of lawmen, known as The Untouchables. This includes profiles of these men, items used by them, and information on prohibition in general.
There are many items related to Eliot Ness’ book, “The Untouchables”, which came out in 1957, and the movie of the same name which came out in 1987 starring Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness. Interestingly, Ness did the interviews for the book with his co-author, Oscar Fraley, at the Hotel Crittenden across the street from the museum.
In addition to the signage and photos related to both Ness and Capone, the museum also features information on Coudersport both in the 1920s and in the mid-50s when Ness lived in town.
There is also a TV in the museum that has a 15-minute reel of clips including from “The Untouchables”, law enforcement clips, and more.
Ultimately, while I wouldn’t call the Eliot Ness Museum in Coudersport a must-visit spot, if you enjoy history, are a fan of The Untouchables, or are simply looking for something to do in Potter County on a rainy day, this museum is a fun spot to visit.
And, before leaving the area, make sure to take a short walk over to 105 East 3rd Street in Coudersport. This is the home where Ness, his wife, and his son lived during the last year of his life before he died on May 16, 1957 at the age of 54. It’s not open to the public, but is interesting to see form the outside.
Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out Austin Dam, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, and the PA Lumber Museum.
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