Delve into the world of spies, their gadgets and their stories, at this modern museum in the heart of downtown DC.
Home of the world’s most comprehensive collection of espionage artefacts, the International Spy Museum has been open in downtown DC since 2002. Since then, visitors have flocked here to see some of the incredible devices and hear the striking stories of spies through the ages.
Check out the School for Spies exhibit where you’ll learn about the tricks of the trade used by spooks from the CIA, KGB and MI5, from coded messages to real-life gadgets. Spot the Bulgarian Umbrella which fires deadly poison pellets, the Hairbrush Camera and the fatal Drop Dead Spikes.
At the Spies Among Us exhibit, you can hear interviews and confessions from secret agents. Elsewhere, you can see genuine training videos used by spies in World War II, as well as a replica of James Bond’s Aston Martin from the movie ‘Goldfinger’.
For budding secret agents, there are interactive exhibits such as Operation Spy, which will put you in the place of a US spy racing the enemy to find a nuclear device. The video exhibit’s characters and special effects make it a treat for kids and grown-ups alike. Elsewhere, check out Spy in the City, a GPS tour of D.C. in which you can try to solve a serious case.
There are all kinds of events on at the museum, from lectures to family fun. Before you leave, take a trip to the gift shop for all kinds of souvenirs, including walkie-talkie watches and camcorder pens perfect presents for up-and-coming spooks.
Located just 20 minutes’ walk from the Zero Milestone, the museum is open every day except during holiday periods, with opening hours varying. Tickets are reasonably priced, with discounts available for senior citizens and younger visitors. Children under seven get in free.
