This series of posts reflects my inner geek.  It chronicles a number of information technology (IT) related “tourist attractions” that I would love to visit before I die.  Some of them are simply far away locations that I dream of making it to and others will be locations that I would need some assistance obtaining access to.  Please feel free to add your own via the comments block below.

Today’s destination is The National Cryptologic Museum.  It is basically the National Security Agency and Intelligence Community museum! It is located on the grounds of Fort Meade, MD and is open to the public!  It is about as close as you are ever going to get to NSA as a civilian and you can even bring your camera!museumsign 

The museum’s site reports that:

The National Cryptologic Museum is the National Security Agency’s principal gateway to the public. It shares the Nation’s, as well as NSA’s, cryptologic legacy and place in world history. Located adjacent to NSA Headquarters, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland, the Museum houses a collection of thousands of artifacts that collectively serve to sustain the history of the cryptologic profession.

The museum houses a good collection of historical super computer parts, crypto devices, code making and breaking equipment, and beautiful memorials to those who gave their life for their country in the service of the intelligence community.  The section dedicated to super computing is worth the trip alone for a true information technology professional.

As if that was not draw enough to get you there, right next to the museum, is the National Vigilance Park. They have two reconnaissance aircraft used for intel missions dating throughout the Cold War!  You can walk all around here.

aerial_recon_planes

This tourist site will be of interest to computer security, network engineers, super computer scientists, and spook fans of all ages.  They even have a ton of kid activities for the IT Pros in training.

So what could be cooler than getting to visit Fort Meade, home of the National Security Agency, and see all kinds of historic cryptographic and reconnaissance artifacts?  I have no idea.  Enjoy!

So where do you want to visit that is related to your interest in The Information Age and Information Technology?  Do you want to see where people worked, like this article, or where objects are?  Together we could make a terrific list.  Please add below.

That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for August 6, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin

Photo credit: NSA.gov

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