International Spy Museum

Washington DC has an Internation Spy Museum that Andrew and I have wanted to go for some time. Andrew decided we should go weekend since we were in the area and I thought it was a super idea. We took Sydney and my Mom, sister and her boyfriend came with us. We took the metro to the Galleria Place/Chinatown stop and saw the museum was right next to the station. Once inside we were prompted to get in an elevator and go up a floor. The elevator took us to a room with large postcards of different identities. We were each supposed to pick one identity and memorize his/her name, age, occupation, where they were born, where they were going, reason for visit and length of stay. The identity we picked would be our own and we would be quizzed later on. I was already hooked! The museum showed the progression of spy technology, how it was used, how spies operated and what happened when they were caught. It was like a completely new history lesson...one I'd never learned of in school. There were displays of spy gagets, computer simulation games where you looked at a man/woman and had to spot them disguised in a crowd, even an air ducts to crawl through. Andrew found the duct first saying "you've got to try this!" So we all went up the stairs and Sydney lead the way crawling about 10 feet to the other side where Andrew was waiting. It was like being Jack Bauer in 24! At one point there were computers with touch screens that asked several questions about our "identity". I answered all of the questions correctly, but then I was given more information to memorize and at the very end of the exhibits I took the second test and the suspicion level went up with each question I answered...uh-oh. When I got my results the computer said I was detained by the foreign ministry. Oh well, at least I know I wasn't meant to be a spy, hehe. We all had a great time. I almost felt like I didn't have enough time to take it all in there was so much information. Famous spies, celebrity spies (chef Julia Child was a former spy) and even military intelligence. I would recommend visiting this museum if you are in DC and you've seen all of the must see attractions...the monument, air and space museum, etc. Afterwards we had lunch in Chinatown. Sydney enjoyed vegetable Lo Mein and the rest of us picked our usual favorites. We just had the best day! Here is a picture of Sydney at the gift shop with her "spy hat."