Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes to be the next Black Widow? Jason Bourne? Or even Bond, James Bond? Well, now’s your chance! Thanks to Spyscape in NYC, you can test your skill to see where you rank, all while learning about the real men and women who influenced some of the world’s most iconic characters. Part museum, part interactive skills assessment, Spyscape has something for everyone to enjoy!
The Museum
If, like me, you have been obsessed with the espionage genre since you first discovered the Bond movies, you will love the museum aspect. It begins with the efforts of Alan Turing and his team of code breakers who cracked the Nazi cypher device, Enigma (which they have on display!). Other impressive items they have include weapons of espionage such as: hatpin daggers, baseball grenades, and a collapsible motorcycle. Yes, these were all really used and not just invented for movies!
Each section of the museum is a different era in the world’s history. For instance, after the WWII spies, you move into Cold War tensions, and finally into modern times with hacker groups like Anonymous. It is difficult to leave the hacker exhibit without a little uneasiness. We are all so dependent on technology, it makes you feel vulnerable!
The Experience
What makes Spyscape different from any other museum is the interactive spy assessment you take while moving through each exhibit. Each visitor is issued a wristband upon arrival to the museum. By scanning it at each test, you build a skill profile throughout your visit with the results given to you at the end.
Spyscape tests you on: special ops, surveillance, deception, risk, encryption, personality, and brain power. When I heard about Spyscape, I assumed this part of the experience was minimal and would be pretty easy. Wow, was I wrong! According to Spyscape, this program was developed by psychologists and a former Head of Training at British Intelligence. Needless to say, the tests can be quite challenging!
Once you finish all of the assessments, a rank is issued to you based on the results of the completed tests. These include: hacker, agent handler, cryptologist, special ops officer, intelligence operative, spy catcher, analyst, technical ops officer, surveillance officer, and spymaster. Can’t get to NYC but still want to see how you would do? There is an online version for $9.95 on Spyscape’s website.
Spyscape has a separate exhibit that no James Bond fan will want to miss! See the Aston Martin DB5 that was featured in the movies up close and personal. There are also some cool movie props, interviews, and some impressive projections! I went right at the end of the day and had the entire Bond exhibit to myself! The 007xSpyscape exhibit is not part of the general admission ticket; make sure you buy the all access ticket if you want to see it!
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