The Boston Lohses traveled to Washington, DC, this week. Besides the usual sightseeing staples, we visited the International Spy Museum. Although it is not a free, government funded institution, this was the best place in DC. I couldn't get enough, and the kids had a great time, too.

The museum had loads of interactive computer simulations for decoding messages, reading satellite imagery, and testing our ability to remember the details of a selected alias.

There were short films (2-10 minutes) on bugging, lockpicking, infamous spies, movie spies, and much more.

Like any good museum, there were tons of interesting artifacts from the silly Max Smart shoe-phone to the many tools of surveillance, deception, and communication.

Plan on about 2 hours to get through the place (it's huge), but don't miss it!

Here are some excerpts from their site:

International Spy Museum Exhibits

The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the world solely dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage. The Museum's permanent exhibition presents the tradecraft of espionage through the stories of individuals and their missions, tools and techniques. Exhibits feature the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display -- many for the first time. These artifacts, combined with historic photographs, state-of-the-art audio visual programs, computer interactive displays and special effects, reveal the strategies and techniques of the men and women behind some of the most secret espionage missions in world history!

International Spy Museum's Mission:

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.

For the Spy-Kids:

Whether it's the challenge of deciphering top secret codes or the fine art of developing a disguise for cover, children and families will find an amazing array of public programs, workshops, demonstrations, and action-packed missions to hone their skills. Meet real "spies," learn how skills like observation, analysis, critical thinking, and being a team-player are all important to tradecraft and in real life. Workshops on disguise, gadgetry, spy science, codes and ciphers; Spy Magic performances; Operation Secret Slumber overnights; and Spy for a Day missions are offered on a monthly basis.

Awesome place.