Who doesn’t love the cool tools, tricks and technology that spies use? This would explain the popularity of all the James Bond, spy movies and books. This makes the interactive Spy Exhibition“The Secret World of Espionage” at the Discovery Times Square so interesting and fun because it unlocks treasures from the world’s largest espionage collection with items from the CIA, The FBI and NationalReconnaissance Office.
You will be able to see real gadgets and real artifacts from spies and spy catchers and many of the artifacts on display at SPY come straight from the unparalleled 10,000-plus personal artifact collection of H. Keith Melton, author of several books on the subject, including the best-selling The Ultimate Spy and the forthcoming Spy’s Guide to New York City. The remaining artifacts come straight from the collections of some of the world’s leading intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the FBI and the NRO.
I loved the exhibit for all the cool spy tools on display. Here are my favorites.
- Charlie the Catfish, one of two CIA Robotic Catfish
- Rats and Bricks used as dead drops – Yes, rats, gross but cool, they used hot sauce to keep the scavengers away from the rat.
- Laser Field – Experience what it’s like to be a Spy first hand – test your spy skills by navigating your way through an actual laser field.
- Create your own disguise and alter your voice – even your family and friends wont recognize you!
Of particular interest to New Yorkers will be artifacts, video surveillance tapes, and other items from the collection of the FBI related to “Ghost Stories,” the infamous Anna Chapman Russian spy case (remember she is the pretty red head) that beguiled New Yorkers and, indeed, all Americans just two years ago. The case is arguably the most successfully foiled clandestine operation in contemporary American history, and visitors will see shocking, recently declassified surveillance videos of the undercover Russian spies in New York City, along with many of their personal belongings and tools.
Location: Discovery Times Square, located at 226 West 44th Street.
Times: Sunday – Thursday, from 10am – 8pm, and Friday – Saturday, from 10am – 9pm
Website and Tickets: http://www.discoverytsx.com/exhibitions/spy
