At its core, the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC, is a history museum. It focuses on the history and tradecraft of espionage, as well as preserving espionage-related artifacts from around the world.
Having opened in 2002, the International Spy Museum is a relatively recent addition to DC. It was originally
located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood before being relocated to L’Enfant Plaza in 2019. The museum contains thousands of artifacts from throughout history, many of which are available to the public for viewing.
To help families plan their visit, we’ve constructed a guide based on insights from Google and Yelp reviews, Facebook groups, and personal experiences.
Here are 5 things to know about visiting the Spy Museum with your kids.
It’s recommended for ages 9 and up.
While the museum is generally considered to be accessible and family-friendly, featuring sensory maps and family guides, it’s best enjoyed by those with basic reading ability. Younger kids won’t be able to absorb as much of the historical information, and the hands-on activities aren’t geared toward younger kids.
They offer premium memberships
Known as The Inner Circle Membership, becoming a member of the Spy Museum grants you unlimited, express access, plus a 25% discount at the Spy Museum Store. Your membership also supports the museum’s nonprofit mission to inspire learning across all ages. If your kids are particularly interested in interactive kiosks and the general experience, the membership is a great way to save money over repeat visits.
There are some heavy topics
While it’s all in the name of education, the Spy Museum contains themes that you might want to discuss with your child beforehand. Some of its exhibits touch on serious subjects like war, terrorism, interrogation tactics and assassination, presented with historical context.
Spy Camp 2025
Happening in July 2025, Spy Camp invites kids ages 9–12 to become KidSpy recruits. They’ll take part in training missions in DC, learn from real spies and hone their tradecraft. Activities include making a disguise, deciphering codes and learning to use spy gadgets.
They have a great gift shop
In addition to souvenirs you might expect, like shirts, keychains, cups and plushies, the Spy Museum features plenty of cool gadgets, toys and other gift items. Some of these include a pen with a hidden HD camera and built-in DVR, a cryptex combination safe and a wireless audio mask. There’s something fun and appropriate for kids of different ages to find.
Bonus:
Open through September 2025, “Bond In Motion” celebrates more than 60 years of James Bond vehicles. The exhibition features 17 real, iconic pieces from the films, along with other props, scale models and film clips. Some of the featured vehicles include the Bath-O-Sub from “Diamonds Are Forever” and the Neptune Submarine from “For Your Eyes Only.”
Hours: 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday–Friday; 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday
Phone: (202) 393-7798
Address: 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC 20024
Website: https://spymuseum.org/
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Seth Hagler is a freelance writer and an intern with Washington Parent. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
