The International Spy Museum is definitely worth a visit for everybody who loves spy films, books or simply the gadgets James Bond had to play with. I took the combi-ticket for $25 for an interactive spy mission and the museum.
The interactive mission is kind of interesting (though I think all engineers and computer scientist are mostly figuring out how they did it which might spoil the fun. One hour of a mission within a group and you get even feedback how well you performed (in decrypting phone calls, or searching a room of an important person ;-)
The museum itself is made nicely. First, some basics terms of spying are explained followed by some really cool gadgets (lipstick revolver, secret message decoder suit case, bomb builder suitcase, microdot, ....
This follows then a long track of spying in the 'old times' starting with the Chinese, Romans, Middleage, Elizabeths and Mary Queen of Scots up to First World War. Impressive where the pigeons that flew messages from one side to the next (some of them taking photos behind the enemies line etc). One pigeon even saved a whole troop (brave little bird!)... Spying during World War II, and in the Cold War. The Cold War period feels a bit glorified as the "golden age of spying"... the museum pictures many stories of secret agents who got detected, and their fate. (and of course the 'How' and 'Why').
Together with the interactive mission, we spent five hours there and had a good time.



