International Spy Museum

THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM CREATES COMPELLING EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE SHADOW WORLD OF ESPIONAGE AND INTELLIGENCE, EDUCATING AND CHALLENGING EACH OF US TO ENGAGE CRITICALLY WITH THE COMPLEX WORLD AROUND US.

THE EXHIBITS: THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM HAS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ESPIONAGE ARTIFACTS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY. IN 2022, THE MUSEUM'S DISPLAYS, MEDIA AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES FEATURE THE HISTORY, PEOPLE, TRADECRAFT AND IMPACT OF INTELLIGENCE ON THE WORLD. IN 2022, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED A RECORD 650,000 VISITORS TO L'ENFANT PLAZA. A SURVEY BY THE MUSEUM CONSULTANT PGAV IN 2022 GAVE HELPFUL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE MUSEUM THAT WOULD IMPROVE FLOW AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE. SOME OF THESE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 2022 INCLUDING AN EXPANSION OF AVAILABLE INTERACTIVE STATIONS AND IMPROVED SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM. A TEMPORARY EXHIBITION, OPERATION JACQUES, WAS MOUNTED IN THE BRIEFING CENTER GALLERY. THIS EXHIBITION TOLD THE 2008 STORY OF A COLOMBIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN THE SUCCESSFUL RESCUE OF 15 HOSTAGES, INCLUDING FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE INGRID BENANCOURT. THE EXHIBITION WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EMBASSY OF COLOMBIA AND FEATURED ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A RADIO USED BY INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL, PIECES OF CLOTHING WORN BY THE UNDERCOVER COLOMNIAN FORCES AND PROPS USED TO DISGUISE THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION. THE EXHIBITION WAS OPEN FROM JUNE 10 DECEMBER 31, 2022.

ACCESS TO SPY: OPENING OUR DOORS TO COMMUNITIES FACING BARRIERS IS A SERIES OF PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. IN 2022 THE MUSEUM SUPPORTED THESE COMMUNITIES THROUGH BOTH ONSITE AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. 327 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMMING FOR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY, AND 114 ADULTS WITH MEMORY CARE ISSUES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS WERE REACHED THROUGH 10 PROGRAMS.

STUDENT WORKSHOPS & RESOURCES: THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS (ONSITE AND VIRTUAL) & DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LEARNING AND MEET NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS. DESIGNED FOR GRADES 3 - 12, SUBJECTS RANGE FROM HISTORY & GOVERNMENT TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND ADDRESS SKILL BUILDING IN THE AREAS OF CRITICAL & CREATIVE THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK. SINCE 2011, MORE THAN 87,000 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HAVE ATTENDED WORKSHOPS.IN 2022 THE MUSEUM TAUGHT 351 WORKSHOPS TO 8,801 STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD: 117 WERE ON-SITE WORKSHOPS, AND 234 WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY VIA OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM. 347 TEACHERS WERE PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOTH ONSITE AND VIRTUALLY.