International Spy Museum - Washington DC
What is It – Fifteen miles outside of the District of Columbia in Langley Virginia lies the headquarters of one of the United States' most important organizations - the Central Intelligence Agency. The source of great heroism, secrecy, and controversy over the years, the CIA employs an estimated 17,500 people. While some work as field agents or engage in covert actions, the vast majority serve as highly trained analysts reviewing vast amounts of public and private information or work as experts in highly technical fields such as satellite imagery, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Unlike the White House, the U.S. Capitol, or even the US Mint, there are no public or private tours of the CIA compound.
Nevertheless, it was surprising when a nonprofit organization started by businessman Milton Maltz and supported by some former government officials opened the International Spy Museum in downtown Washington in 2002 to explain the important work done by the CIA and other government intelligence agencies around the world. After almost two decades of activity, the museum moved to the L’Enfant Plaza and reopened at a new building in May 2019. It features a "140,000 square foot purpose-built facility, interactive exhibits, and the world's largest public display of authentic spy tools and gadgets, augmented by first person accounts from real spies along with new technologies that invite visitors to undertake their own spy missions." The resulting Museum provides a satisfying experience for the adults and teenagers seeking to understand real intelligence work while also being entertained with elements of pop culture from the world of spies.
The nine-story building housing the museum contains a theatre for movies and presentations, a rooftop terrace, event space and a gift store. Programs sponsored by the museum in these facilities range from Curator presentations to adult attendees on controversial topics such as the “Dark Mirror” impact of Edward Snowden on government surveillance to the increasing use of private spies in government and business such as the people who compiled the Trump Dossier. Teens and Kids can participate in events such as a Virtual Spy Camp or choose their own adventure by playing a role as Mata Hari or other historical spies.
There are both permanent and temporary exhibits presented in the museum. For many years, the Museum included a special exhibition with artifacts from James Bond films entitled “Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains”. That exhibit explored the role played by the Bond movies in shaping public perceptions of espionage and modern weaponry, but also displayed costumes and memorabilia from the various henchmen who pursued the demise of 007. The new museum still provides a prominent location for James Bond’s favorite Aston Martin vehicle.
Some of the many exhibitions currently presented in the museum include:
Historic Spies – There are exhibits presenting information about historic spy networks ranging from the Greek’s use of the Trojan Horse to the disputed role of Mata Hari as a German spy during World War I, to the Allies’ breaking of the Nazis’ enigma codes during World War II and the tense spying between the United States and the Soviet Union in Berlin during the Cold War. One particularly interesting exhibit deal with the colonial spy network that George Washington deployed against the British during the American Revolution which was recently glamorized in the TV Series – Turn.
Red Teaming – This interactive experience allows visitors to participate in a spy exercise where they serve as a group of analysts seeking to evaluate information and advise National Security decision makers whether to undertake a covert action.
Photo Credit - Sam Kittner for International Spy Museum
Cyber Battlefield – These exhibits show how technology provides opportunities for governments and shadow groups to collect information, mount cyber-attacks, and destroy critical infrastructure for political or financial objectives.
Spy Artifacts – These exhibits display some of the more than 7000 intelligence tools and artifacts which the Museum has collected from intelligence agencies and private collectors from suicide devices to drones to forgery devices and mask disguises.
Interesting Facts - The Museum does not shy away from controversial contemporary events as it presents an interview with Morten Storm, a self-radicalized Danish jihadist who joined al Qaeda, and then volunteered to aid western intelligence agencies in infiltrating the inner ranks of some of Europe’s most dangerous terrorists.
How to Get Here - The Museum is located right at L’Enfant Plaza close to the Mall in Washington, D.C. L’Enfant Plaza is served by several Metro lines which run from the Amtrak train station or Reagan National Airport. Most domestic carriers have flights to Reagan Airport or the nearby Dulles and Baltimore/Washington Airports from cities across the country.
Photo Credit - Sam Kittner for International Spy Museum
When to Go - Washington can be sweltering in July and August or rainy and dreary in January and February. During the rest of the year, the climate is quite good for visiting the Museum or the many other attractions of the District.
Where to Stay - There are at least a dozen national brand hotels located within a half mile of the Museum which provide a good central location for visiting other sites in the Capitol such as the Smithsonian and many national monuments.
Cost - Tickets to the Museum cost approximately $25 for adults, $17 for youth, and are free for young children. There are small discounts for military service members and college students.