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Masks on display were used by hacktivists; some still have their signed code names.
Masks on display were used by hacktivists; some still have their signed code names.

Spyscape

Field review by the editors.

New York, New York

In 2002 the International Spy Museum opened in Washington, DC, and it made sense; spying was, after all, mainly associated in the public mind with governments spying on each other. But by 2018, with everything from smart watches to home theater systems spying on everybody, a new, more personal approach to espionage seemed appropriate. Thus Spyscape, an attraction that not only showcases iconic gear such as Enigma machines and Guy Fawkes hacktivist masks, but also encourages visitors to "discover their inner spy" and "question everything."

Spy Dance: twist your way through the Special Ops laser tunnel.
Spy Dance: twist your way through the Special Ops laser tunnel.

Aside from dodging lasers in a Special Ops tunnel and "learning to lie" in an interrogation booth, visitors are outfitted with an RFID-equipped wrist band that tracks them through the attraction. Spyscape calls this a "journey of personal discovery," because by the time you reach the gift shop, you'll know what kind of spy you could be. A puzzle-solving Cryptologist? Maybe a more glamorous Spymaster?

Spyscape doesn't say what it does with this data, but swears it won't keep your personal information... if you remember to question everything and tell them not to.

Spyscape

Address:
928 8th Ave., New York, NY
Directions:
North edge of the Times Square district, on the southeast corner of 8th Ave. and W. 55th St.
Hours:
M-F 9-9, Sa-Su 10-9 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
212-549-1941
Admission:
Adults $39.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

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