National Cryptologic Museum
Location within Maryland | |
Established | 1993 |
---|---|
Location | 8290 Colony Seven Road Annapolis Junction, Maryland 20701 United States of America |
Coordinates | 39°06′53″N 76°46′29″W / 39.1148°N 76.7748°W |
Type | History |
Visitors | 50,000 annually |
Director | Vince Houghton[1] |
Website | www |
The National Cryptologic Museum (NCM) is an American museum of
The NCM is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am–4pm (hours are extended Wednesdays to 7pm). It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and all
The
The NCM is open to the public, and admission is free. Donations to the NCM Foundation are accepted. Photography is allowed inside the museum but flash photography is prohibited due to the age of some of the artifacts. The museum temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later in 2020, new museum director Vince Houghton used the opportunity to have the museum renovated.[5] It reopened on October 8, 2022.[6]
Collections
The NCM collection contains thousands of artifacts, including numerous working
In addition to exhibits covering equipment used to encrypt, decrypt, and secure information, the museum features exhibits on the people who contributed to cryptography in America, such as
Collections are divided into four major groupings:
- Early Cryptology, which deals with cryptologic history prior to the formation of NSA, with exhibits dating back to the 16th century (the Renaissance-era book Polygraphiae) forward to the early 1950s, focusing on artifacts from the Founding Fathers of the United States, the American Civil War, the United States Army Code talkers, World War I, and World War II.
- Cold War/Information Age, which deals with cryptology and cryptanalysis on both sides of the Cold War, the early years of NSA, and the rise of the modern age of computers, including the development of supercomputers
- Information Assurance, which deals with the rise of tamper-evidenttechnologies, nuclear command and control, and cyberdefense.
- Memorial Hall, one side of which features the USS Liberty, and a replica of NSA's National Cryptologic Memorial[7])
In addition, there are galleries throughout NCM focusing on the roles of women and African-Americans in cryptologic history, and the variety of languages in use throughout the world.[8]
The NCM includes an unclassified library of books, papers, and other materials relating to the history of cryptography and cryptology as well.[9] The library is open on days when the museum is open. The library is non-circulating (that is, material cannot be borrowed or checked out by the public), but photocopying and photography are allowed. Patrons needing extensive or rare materials for research are encouraged to contact the museum to schedule an appointment with the librarian.[8]
The size of NCM's library nearly doubled with the donation of an extensive collection of papers, books, and other artifacts related to codes and ciphers from cryptologic historian and author David Kahn.[2] The donation was formally dedicated by the NCM during a recognition ceremony for Dr. Kahn on October 26, 2010.[10]
Activities
The museum offers tours for members of the public, both scheduled and walk-in, that describe cryptology's impact on history and jobs in the field. Tours are led by docents who are retired NSA employees. Groups of six persons or more are requested to contact the museum in advance to schedule tours and ensure docent availability.
In addition, the NCM offers educational field trips, tours, talks, and interactive programs for students aged from 9, as well as programs for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of all ages to satisfy various pins, requirements, and electives. Interested educators, scoutmasters, and troop leaders are encouraged to contact the museum for more details.
The NCM was the site of the 2010 activation ceremony for Marine Corps Forces, Cyberspace Command. The ceremony was attended by former
NSA Hall of Honor
The NSA Hall of Honor is a memorial honoring individuals with distinguished service to American
Photo gallery
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Four-rotor Kriegsmarine Enigma machine
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US Navy Bombe used to decrypt the German Enigma machine
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STU-I secure telephone desk set (electronics were housed in a separate cabinet)
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KY-3 secure telephone system
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Navajo I secure telephone
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STU-II secure telephone desk set (electronics were housed in a separate cabinet)
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STU-II electronic equipment cabinet
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STU-III secure telephone desk set
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NSASupercomputer (1993)
See also
- Arlington Hall
- Bletchley Park
- CIA Museum
- International Spy Museum
- H. Keith Melton
- Moscow–Washington hotline
References
- ^ "The Story of a Cryptologic Hero: SPC Ryan C. King, USA" (PDF). National Security Agency Public Affairs Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ a b c "National Cryptologic Museum – NSA/CSS". Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ Barrett, Steve (May 1994). "Secret Intelligence Agency Goes on Display". INSCOM Journal. 17 (5): 14. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "National Vigilance Park – NSA/CSS". Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "From Soldier to Scholar: Vince Houghton Named Director of National Cryptologic Museum". National Security Agency. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "NSA's National Cryptologic Museum Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ahead of Grand Opening". National Security Agency. October 7, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "National Cryptologic Memorial – NSA/CSS". May 28, 2010. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- ^ a b "National Cryptological Museum – Virtual Tour". Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- ^ "NCM Library Catalog" (PDF). National Security Agency. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Dr. David Kahn to be honored by NSA". October 19, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ McCombs, Alan J. (January 28, 2010). "Fort Meade News: USMC Cyber Command". Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- ^ "Hall of Honor – NSA/CSS". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- ^ Photo gallery of NSA Hall of Honor Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
Notes
- Jack E. Ingram, "Ensuring the Legacy: The Story of the National Cryptologic Museum", Studies in Intelligence, 47(3), 2003
- Jack E. Ingram, "The National Cryptologic Museum: The First Ten Years – A Personal Story", Intelligencer 14(1) (Winter/Spring 2004), pp. 101–10.
- Louis Kruh, "A Pictorial Tour of the National Cryptologic Museum", 18(4), October 1994, pp. 381–89. doi:10.1080/0161-119491882955
External links
- National Cryptologic Museum
- The National Cryptologic Museum Foundation
- Rosetta Stone Replicas, provider of the Rosetta Stone replica at NCM
- A review of the museum
- A set of photos of the museum by Austin Mills
- A set of photos of NCM and NVP by Mike Newton
- A full screen interactive virtual tour of the National Cryptologic Museum By Rick Unland
- C-SPAN American History TV tour of the National Cryptologic Museum