One of the things I learned as a graduate student studying history was the crucial role espionage and intelligence played in the unfolding of historical events. From the Allies breaking the MAGIC and ULTRA codes of the Germans and Japanese to the blockbuster revelations of the VENONA program; intelligence operations have determined the course of history, and to the extent of our knowledge of them, shaped the writing of that history.

The International Spy Museum brilliantly captures this hidden history in an innovative and captivating experience.

You can discover the hidden history of surprising spymasters such as Moses George Washington, and Josephine Baker I highly recommend the exhibits on World War II, The Cold War, and especially the exhibit on how the Bolsheviks turned their intelligence operations into an instrument of state terror.

The museum also has a lots of displays on the tools and tradecraft of the spy buisness. The gift shop is a garden of eden for history buffs.

The Executive Director of the museum is Peter Earnest a former CIA Operations Officer. He hosts Spycast, a podcast about espionage and intelligence matters. A regular guest is Oleg Kalugin, a Major General in the KGB, who now lives in the United States.

Located in the Penn Quarter (China Town) neighborhood in Washington DC, the International Spy Musuem makes for a great day trip. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping, and it is accesible by Metro. During the week you can take the MARC Train down to Union Station and shoot down the Red Line to the Gallery Place China Town stop.

International Spy Musuem

800 F. St NW Washington DC, 20004

The Museum opens daily at 9 am from April until August and at 10 am the rest of the year. Last Admission is at 7 pm April through October, and 5 pm November through March. The Museum closes one hour after Last Admission. A two hour visit is recommended. Hours are subject to change.

202.393.7798

http://www.spymuseum.org/

Topics: Espionage , International Spy Musuem

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