CIA Museum facts for kids
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| Established | June 2002 |
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| Location | Langley, Virginia |
| Collections | Clothing, equipment, weapons, memorabilia, weapons, and insignia |
| Collection size | >3500 artifacts |
| Owner | Central Intelligence Agency, US government |
The CIA Museum is a special place that collects, protects, and shows off important items related to the history of intelligence and spying. It's run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which is a part of the United States government. The museum has more than 3,500 items, but it's not open to the public. This is because it's located inside the main CIA building in Langley, Virginia.
Even though you can't visit the CIA Museum in person, some of its items are shown in other museums across the country. These partnerships help people learn about intelligence work and its role in American history. Other government agencies also have their own museums. For example, the National Cryptologic Museum focuses on code-breaking and is open to the public. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and FBI also have museums, but like the CIA Museum, they are not open to the public.
Contents
What's Inside: The CIA Museum Collection
The CIA Museum collects items from the CIA's past, including its earlier organization, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). It also has items related to foreign intelligence groups. The collection includes many different things like special clothing, spy equipment, unique weapons, and souvenirs. These items were designed or used by intelligence groups throughout history.
The museum also has one-of-a-kind items. These include things developed through secret research or made by individuals for special missions. For example, the museum displays an AK-47 rifle and a brick from a compound connected to a major historical event.
In 2022, for the CIA's 75th birthday, a few journalists got to see the museum. They reported seeing cool "Cold War spy gadgets." These included a "dead drop rat" where secret messages could be hidden, a hidden camera inside a cigarette pack, and even a pigeon with its own tiny spy-camera!
Exploring the Exhibits: Spy History on Display
As of 2017, the CIA Museum has three main exhibits at its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
North Gallery: Honoring the OSS Legacy
The North Gallery opened in 2002. It celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was the CIA's predecessor. This exhibit shows how the CIA carries on the legacy of the OSS. You can see personal items from Major General William J. Donovan, who started the OSS. There are also examples of OSS equipment and a German Enigma machine from World War II. The Enigma machine was used to send secret messages.
Cold War Gallery: Silent Conflict Artifacts
The Cold War Gallery was created in 1997. It's called "The Cold War: Fifty Years of Silent Conflict." This exhibit displays many of the 7,000 secret espionage items. These items come from the United States, the former Soviet Union, and East Germany. This collection is one of the largest private collections of spy gear in the world.
Fine Arts Exhibit Hall: Informing American Policy
The exhibit in the Fine Arts Exhibit Hall celebrates the 50th anniversary of the CIA's Directorate of Intelligence, which started in 1952. This section shows how intelligence analysis helps shape American policy.
- Exhibits
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Cold War Gallery
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The OSS A Beano grenade; a compass hidden in a uniform button
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Silk Escape and evasion map, Office of Strategic Services
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The CIA designed and manufactured this two-man semi-submersible in the 1950s.
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Robot Fish Charlie, Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) fish
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Pigeon Camera, designed in the 1970s
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Developed in the 1970s, this micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was the first flight of an insect-sized Micro air vehicle (Insectothopter).
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World War 2 era German Enigma Machine
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Afghan Gallery
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Al-Qa’ida Training Manual picked up near Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2001
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Afghan Saddle
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See also
In Spanish: Museo de la CIA para niños
