My youngest son suggested going to the International Spy Museum instead. Hmmm. Nearby. Easy to get to. Indoors. Not muddy. "Okay!" I relented.
Besides, all the stuff about Edward Snowden in the news lately seemed to make the choice appropriate.
The highlight of the International Spy Museum's exhibits was the 50 Years of Bond displays, which ran intermittently throughout the entire museum. Throughout the 50 Years of Bond exhibit, we met the various evil villains of the 007 movies, including the various incarnations of Bond himself. One of the more interesting tidbits was Ian Fleming's background and how James Bond came to be named James Bond. Short story: Fleming read an orthinography book by one James Bond, and considered the name to be the most boring and bland possible, and therefore, the perfect moniker for his uber spy. Particularly interesting as well was the comparison of aspects in the films, for example, the laser-fire satellite, with the real-world story (it doesn't exist).


In every museum I have my list of favorite artifacts, and the International Spy Museum is no different. My top six are:
- the Bulgarian umbrella gun
- the bugged U.S. embassy medallion
- the lipstick pistol
- the Bond car
- the pidgeon camera and the photo shot from such a camera, in which the pidgeon's wings are clearly visible
- high-heeled switch-blade shoes (truly a killer pair of pumps)

Getting there: 800 F Street, NW—one block from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail Station and the Verizon Center. If you drive it, there's plenty of parking garages nearby, but parking can be expensive.
Hours: Hours vary; please check the website for the date you intend to visit.
Website: www.spymuseum.org
Updated May 2018.
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