SPY TECH

SPY SHRINE

VISITORS EXPLORE THE

SECRET AND EXCITING WORLD OF

INTERNATIONAL ESPIONAGE.

M016

BY LAURA COCHRANE

SMASHING, BABY: The exterior of the International Spy Museum.

The nation’s only museum dedicated to the profession of espionage is located, appropriately enough, one block from FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. With 95% of its contents devoted to real-life spies (read: not a shrine to James Bond), the International Spy Museum relies on authentic concealment devices, sabotage weapons, and cipher machines to bring to life the stories of the men and women working in this intriguing field.

Visitors start with a briefing film, followed by a tour of the School for Spies — a display of artifacts and interactive exhibits. With two floors of spy paraphernalia and lore to investigate, the museum features the largest collection of international spy

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artifacts on public display. When done exploring, visitors can watch a film about gathering intelligence in the 21st century.

Despite its location in a city rife with politicians, the museum tries to present a comprehensive look at espionage around the world with a focus on human intelligence, not political ideology.

For those interested in an extra dash of stealth, Operation Birthday Cake is a children’s birthday party rolled into a scavenger hunt. The facilities are also available to rent out for an after-hours rendezvous — perhaps for a shaken, not stirred, martini party?

Laura Cochrane is an editorial assistant at MAKE.

Photography courtesy of the International Spy Museum