Spies like us

By Pat Henderson
February 21, 2018

The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., is the only public museum in the world dedicated to exploring the history, impact and craft of intelligence and espionage from a global perspective. 

The attraction features the largest collection of international espionage-related artifacts ever placed on public display, including:

  • Items created for international intelligence services, such as cipher machines, counterfeit currency, disguised weapons and miniature cameras.
  • Espionage training films from World War II and documentation obtained by spies.
  • Pop culture items inspired by fictitious portrayals of spies in movies and on TV.

Groups can take part in interactive experiences, such as Operation Spy and Spy in the City. Operation Spy is an action-packed opportunity for visitors to be a spy and locate a missing trigger device before it falls into the wrong hands. As part of Spy in the City, participants head outdoors to complete a mission and receive clues, codes and audio intercepts via a GPS device.

The museum is scheduled to move into a new building at L’Enfant Plaza, two blocks south of the National Mall, in early 2019. The new location will more than double the floor space of the existing building and will include four extra exhibit areas, additional classroom space, a separate group entrance and a dedicated motorcoach loading zone.

For more information, email the museum’s Lori Scott or go to spymuseum.org.

Top photo by International Spy Museum

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