International Spy Museum

Activity Overview

The International Spy Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the history of espionage and its impact on popular culture. It is home to the world's largest public collection of international espionage artifacts, which features fascinating items such as the Enigma cipher machine, a lipstick pistol, and objects used to conceal radio transmitters.

Adults and teens who love spy movies will be captivated by the museum's exciting exhibits. Whether you're interested in famous spies throughout history or the depiction of spies in the James Bond films, you'll definitely leave the museum having learned something new.

Things to Do

• James Bond fans should visit "Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains", an exhibition which features over 100 items used in the films and looks at Bond villains and how their evil plots represent the times in which they lived. It also has fun interactive elements where visitors can do things like diffuse an atomic bomb.
• If your children are over 12, take them on the Operation Spy mission. This interactive experience has visitors complete a secret mission in the museum which involves exciting activities like decrypting secret conversations, escaping from a high-security area, and interrogating a suspect.
• Look at the fascinating artifacts in the museum's collection. Some of the most popular artifacts include the lipstick pistol, Goldfinger's golf shoes, the Aston Martin DB5 used in Goldfinger, and a George Washington spy letter!

International Spy Museum Insider Tips

• Try a top-secret family mission! Learn more about this exciting activity for families with younger children on the museum's KidSpy Zone page.
• Check the website's calendar of upcoming events to learn about fun activities that are planned during your visit. The museum frequently holds events like seminars for teens and adults, workshops for kids and families, and book events.
• Visitors planning on driving to the museum can purchase guaranteed reserved parking via the official website. Parking is limited, so it's highly recommended that you take advantage of this service. Find out more on the museum's tips page.