The museum was a real treat, far exceeding my expectations. The had all the classic crypto gear, including a set of Jefferson Disks, an original Confederate cipher disk, multiple Japanese Red, Jade, and Purple machines/analogues, American Sigaba, an original Hebern Machine and multiple Enigma Machines. I really enjoyed the VENONA exhibit.
A really nice touch were the 2 fully-functional Enigma Machines, freed of their cases, with pencil and paper next to each, with instructions on how to encode and decode a message.
I was also impressed with how kid-friendly the museum was. The kids were handed the pictured cipher disk, and a 'Cryptokids Challenge' score sheet, which included 14 numbered stations. As the kids reached each station, they were presented with a cipher disk setting, and ciphertext to convert back into plaintext. They both successfully decoded all 14 ciphertexts, and were presented with prizes for their handiwork.
The kids had a blast, and both declared the Cryptologic Museum 'the best museum in the DC area, tied with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.' High praise from my young cryptanalysts!!
2 comments:
i would have loved to have been there its sounds like a neat experience.
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