Washington DC (TAN): The renovated International Spy Museum will open in the US capital on May 11.
Claiming to be “the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events”, the 140,000 sqft steel and glass building is located at 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 1.5 blocks from the National Mall and 1.5 blocks from the waterfront.
[ALSO READ: Jetprivilege has been India’s best airline loyalty programme]
Meant for children and adults alike, the visitors can learn about espionage and intelligence in an engaging way and to provide a context that fosters understanding of their important role in and impact on current and historic events at the spy museum.
“It’s never been more important for people to understand and appreciate – especially in a democracy – the many roles espionage has played, and continues to play, in shaping our lives, our country, and the world we live in,” founder of the museum Milton Maltz was quoted as saying in a news report.
[ALSO READ: One ticket for five routes in Europe with Flixbus]
Architects on display at the museum include a 1777 letter by George Washington authorising a New York spy network to a 1980s coat with a camera concealed in a button. These “bring to life the people and techniques behind some of the most influential espionage actions in world history”.
The International Spy Museum’s permanent exhibition presents the tradecraft of espionage through the stories of individuals and their missions, tools and techniques. Artefacts created by or for intelligence services around the world are supported with historic photographs, interactive displays, film, and video.
[ALSO READ: Mom’s post of flight attendant calming her autistic child goes viral]
A few of the highlights of the new museum include:
- An interactive exploration of red teaming, the process by which new analysts come in to poke holes in theories, challenge conclusions, and ensure the highest confidence in actionable data
- An immersive exhibition, Berlin City of Spies, exploring Communist Berlin, including a Stasi office with all original artifacts, a border checkpoint, and original segments of the Berlin Wall
- An exploration of critical challenges facing intelligence agencies in a democracy, including mass surveillance practices, keeping secrets from the public, and the leaking of classified information
- An exhibition on Covert Action that lifts the curtain on ultra-secret operations created to influence international events, from propaganda to sabotage to assassination
- RFID (radio frequency identification) technology and interactive stations enabling visitors to take on spy personas and test their mettle and skills
- An installation where cyber experts explore the possible future threats to the security of nations
