International Spy Museum - Washington, DC

Address:800 F St., NW
Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 393-7798

See the largest collection of spy artifacts in the world and learn about espionage's impact on history. Take on a spy identity and get a taste of the secret lives that spies have lived throughout time, all over the world!

The International Spy Museum, in Washington D.C., consists of five buildings and has over 600 artifacts for visitors to peruse and ponder, as well as exhibits on espionage methods and materials dating from the Greek and Roman empires, the British Empire, the American Revolutionary War and the post-WWII Cold War years. Visitors are invited to enjoy interactive stations and a unique part of the experience here is the controlled entry, where visitors are given five minutes to memorize details of a spy profile that they can later test themselves about while touring the museum. Museum guides often stop visitors and act as "police" and "question" them about their assumed identity. Older kids will love the "Tricks of the Trade" section, where interactive monitors teach visitors about how to spot surveillance all around us. When you're ready for a snack break, the Spy City Café offers their famous Spy City Dog, sandwiches and salads.

To get here, take DC's Metrorail system to the Gallery Place/Chinatown stop, served by the RED, YELLOW and GREEN lines, or the Metro Center station, served by the ORANGE, BLUE, and RED lines. Be sure to clear at least three hours for the visit here and arrive early to make sure you have plenty of time to learn all of the cool spy techniques here at the International Spy Museum!

The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage in an engaging manner and to provide a dynamic context that fosters understanding of its important role in and impact on current and historic events. The Museum focuses on human intelligence and reveals the role spies have played in world events throughout history.