National Cryptologic Museum

National Cryptologic Museum

National Cryptologic Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The National Cryptologic Museum houses thousands of artifacts that collectively tell the history of the cryptologic profession. Here visitors catch a glimpse of some of the most dramatic moments in the history of American code making and code breaking: the people who devoted their lives to cryptology and national defense, the machines and devices they developed, the techniques they used, and the places where they worked. The museum library maintains a collection of unclassified and declassified books and documents relating to every aspect of cryptology.
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  • LAURIE S
    Buckhannon, West Virginia439 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Secret history in the making
    This small museum, staffed by volunteers who are very knowledgeable about cryptography, make an interesting few hours. Their galleries span from colonial times through the space age explaining how cryptology evolved through the centuries. There are a lot of free brochures after viewing the exhibits. Look for the specific brown signs off the highway to exit for the museum. This is a free museum which accepts donations.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 May 2023
  • Nomad
    249 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Take a deep dive in intel. Aside from the excellent ENIGMA display, this place is historically significant in that this is the approximate location where codebreakers quietly and systematically uncovered the extent of communist infiltration in the US existing at the highest levels of US government agencies, the arts, journalism, academia, etc, Known as project VENONA, this blew the lid-off of communist agent infiltration and also exposed the “Cambridge Five” (Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, etc - all communist moles working within the highest levels of British Intel). Was Senator Joseph McCarthy (who died in disgrace) correct all along? Take a look at VENONA and then you decide.
    Visited September 2022
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 July 2023
  • akt85
    181 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can’t beat free
    Second visit to museum. Many exhibits about the history of codebreaking, including a machine where nuclear codes used to be held. Best of all, the museum is free. There is also plenty of free literature available at the museum about the history of codebreaking in America.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 20 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles248 reviews
Excellent
156
Very good
74
Average
15
Poor
3
Terrible
0

akt85
Madison181 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
Second visit to museum. Many exhibits about the history of codebreaking, including a machine where nuclear codes used to be held. Best of all, the museum is free. There is also plenty of free literature available at the museum about the history of codebreaking in America.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sam
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia12 110 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Small but very informative museum. Lot of hands on activities and many volunteers willing to inform and spend time with visitors
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nomad
249 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Solo
Take a deep dive in intel. Aside from the excellent ENIGMA display, this place is historically significant in that this is the approximate location where codebreakers quietly and systematically uncovered the extent of communist infiltration in the US existing at the highest levels of US government agencies, the arts, journalism, academia, etc, Known as project VENONA, this blew the lid-off of communist agent infiltration and also exposed the “Cambridge Five” (Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, etc - all communist moles working within the highest levels of British Intel). Was Senator Joseph McCarthy (who died in disgrace) correct all along? Take a look at VENONA and then you decide.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LAURIE S
Buckhannon, WV439 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
This small museum, staffed by volunteers who are very knowledgeable about cryptography, make an interesting few hours. Their galleries span from colonial times through the space age explaining how cryptology evolved through the centuries. There are a lot of free brochures after viewing the exhibits. Look for the specific brown signs off the highway to exit for the museum. This is a free museum which accepts donations.
Written 16 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bill B
Bel Air, MD8 194 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
The National Cryptologic Museum is a small hidden gem located near NSA Headquarters located on a circuitous route among several major highways. Thank heavens for map apps. The museum is located in a small one-story building. There are two main display halls and a large room for meetings/conferences, one of which was happening while we were there. Fortunately, entry was free, and movement among the displays was easy. Staff at reception were quite friendly and explained the setup as well as pointing us to a small room with free pamphlets and, surprisingly, a gift shop. We were most impressed with the pre-computer era displays, including everything from code books and typewriter like machines that created code, such as the famous WWII Enigma machine. The gift shop has the usual caps and t-shirts, but the fun came from a "thermographic" hot sauce, and "classified", "unclassified", "declassified" blends from a local coffee roastery. Each display item had an easy to read explanatory card. This is a great place to learn about the people, techniques, and machines that operated under the radar in important world events.
Written 11 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nancy L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
Great visit! Very informative although more context and explanations are required. I was left with desire to understand more and do my own research. My son, 15, was really into it.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lutz E
New Hope, PA116 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Friends
They did have some very famous artifacts/machines there, and a real Enigma to play with (cool) but… the information for most off them was very sparse (eg no in depth description about the inner workings, if you are really curious to dive deeper). No QR codes for at least SOME of the machines.
You end up having to take pictures as a reminder and then go online to read up on Wikipedia.
All told: all of us (3) were actually underwhelmed and left a bit disappointed.
Sorry, this museum needs a bit modern 21st century TLC…
Written 10 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angela D
Annapolis, MD78 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
What a treasure! A wealth of information, knowledgeable docents and some hands-on as well. Parking is easy. I recommend to anyone, including kids. Very handicap accessible. My husband is in a wheelchair.
Written 26 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wowdogs
Klamath Falls, OR71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Solo
Attended Grand Re-Opening today - Museum has been closed for more than 2 years due to COVID. Awesome experience - wonderful exhibits and knowledgeable staff. Hard to believe they have a Hitler Enigma Machine along with other rare code equipment. Give it highest marks - a must do!!!
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EDDIE APPLEFELD
Baltimore, MD375 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
If you are the least bit interested in spies or espionage then you'll want to visit here. On display are all kinds of equipment the U.S. used in various wars. Most of which I'm sure you never heard of or saw. You can request a guide.
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review. It's important to note that the National Cryptologic Museum does not focus on espionage the way many people think. That is, the history of cryptology is about the history of codemaking and codebreaking, not so much as people working "behind enemy lines" pretending to be the enemy, collecting information, and sneaking it back to those for whom they were spying, That is more what is called human intelligence. Here we have hundreds of artifacts, machines, and devices used to create and break codes and ciphers, the men and women who designed and used these tools, the methods they employed, and their impact on American and world history.
Written 16 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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NATIONAL CRYPTOLOGIC MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about National Cryptologic Museum

National Cryptologic Museum is open:
  • Tue - Tue 10:00 - 16:00
  • Wed - Wed 10:00 - 19:00
  • Thu - Sat 10:00 - 16:00


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