International Spy Museum

Washington D.C. is a city with more history than one can experience in a single trip, but many of those sites and museums get dull after a while in the nation’s capital. For a museum that shows a different side of the history you’re used to, check out the International Spy Museum.

This institution is the only public museum in America dedicated to the history and craft of espionage, aiming to give a global perspective on this hidden world. Opened in 2002, the museum now contains more than 750 artifacts illustrating centuries of spycraft, going from modern espionage and the Cold War all the way back to the Roman Empire.

The International Spy Museum draws upon the knowledge of its Board of Directors and Advisory Council whose members include William Webster, former director of the FBI and CIA and current chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council; David Kahn, a world-renowned historian and expert on cryptology; Oleg Kalugin, a former KGB general-turned-critic of the agency; and Stella Rimington, former director general of the British Security Service, also known as MI5.

The museum’s mission is to provide an apolitical perspective on the role espionage played in history. There are several permanent exhibits showcasing different aspects of the spy world. School for Spies examines the gadgets and techniques used by undercover operatives, displaying various artifacts like wiretap bugs and stealth weapons. Ballroom to Battlefield is dedicated to the role of spying during the Civil War. Spies Among Us is a an exhibit on covert operations during World War II, featuring several celebrities who worked as undercover operatives like Josephine Baker, John Ford and Julia Child.

Admission into the museum costs $21.95. Learn more at www.SpyMuseum.com.