The History of Espionage at the Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum in Washington, DC was the first public museum in the country dedicated to spies, espionage and the history of spying and counter-intelligence.

Spies have been employed to gather data on both friends and enemies since the dawn of man.  The ancient Chinese, Greeks, and Romans relied heavily on espionage to protect their empires and to assist them before invasions an to wage war. 

Today, while the tactics and data collection techniques are dramatically different, most countries use some form of spying or “counter-intelligence” against their citizens and foreign countries and potential threats.

From the most basic of techniques such as human operatives following suspects around town and dumpster diving to find important information, to high-tech electronic surveillance including biometric surveillance and the use of high resolution spy satellites, spying and surveillance is a huge business across the globe.  From the battlefield to the boardroom, from cell phone records and calls to credit card purchases tracking that might trigger a trend through data mining efforts, spying has evolved from a gentleman’s art to a sophisticated science.

And the 64,000 square foot of the International Spy Museum documents many of the trends, developments and history of espionage along with displaying a large collection of spy-related artifacts, tool of the trade and James Bond-like devices.

The museum’s collection covers mostly the 20th century, with pieces such as the legendary WWII German Enigma cipher machine captured by the Allies to one of the 1964 silver Aston Martin DB-5 complete with front twin machine guns, spinning tire slashers, bulletproof rear window shield, oil shooting jets, dashboard tracking radar, rotating license plate, and passenger ejector seat driven by James Bond in the movie Goldfinger. 

The displays, many are hands-on, includes not just artifacts, but spy training films from WW-II, interviews with former spies and government intelligence officers, historical photographs, disguise techniques, and pop culture items that led to the development of spy movies and television shows such as Mission: Impossible and Get Smart.

The major exhibits include:

• School for Spies, documenting over 200 tools of the spy trade.
• The Spies Among Us, detailing stories of World War II espionage, code making and breaking, how foreign spies infiltrated the US in the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and how the Allies Ultra program broke the German top secret codes. Additionally, see how celebrities such as chef Julia Child and actress Marline Dietrich worked undercover for the Allies.
• The Secret History of History lets visitors travel back to learn about the now famous men and women spymasters, including Queen Elizabeth I to Joseph Stalin.
• War of the Spies starts with the breakout of the Cold War and the building of Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. It tracks Senator McCarthy’s Red Scare and the hunting for communists through the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Learn about some of the most interesting Cold War spy stories, as well as more recent security breeches in America by traitors such as Robert Hanssen.
• The 21st Century investigates the new techniques, associated threats and challenges facing the global intelligence gathering communities.

Start your visit with a visit the Briefing Room Theater for an introductory overview film about the history of spying in a setting similar to a CIA briefing room.

The International Spy Museum is a must-see museum in Washington, DC, sure to delight both kids and adults, and perhaps even James Bond himself. 

International Spy Museum
800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004  (map it)
202-393-7798

Dates & Times – Daily March to Labor Day 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Labor Day to February – 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $18 .00, Seniors, active Military and the Intelligence Community (with ID), children 5-11 – $15.00, under 5 free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Gallery Place/Chinatown – Green, Red and Yellow lines, then a 2-block walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.

Parking – Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.

Images – Courtesy of the International Spy Museum