Washington DC’s International SPY Museum Exploring Asian History in Espionage- Genghis Khan Statue from 1400’s
May 18, 2023- Washington DC’s International Spy Museum is displaying many intriguing exibits including a Ming Dynasty statue of Genghis Khan in its Deceptions exibit, during their Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. From Ancient China to India, discover the rich tapestry of untold stories and history of Asians in the intelligence world through the lens of SPY’s permanent exhibition, artifact collection, and virtual talks.
The Museum’s mission is to create compelling exhibitions and other learning experiences that shed light on the shadow world of espionage and intelligence, educating and challenging each of us to engage critically with the complex world around us. The aim is to provide an objective and apolitical forum for exploring important topics such as the impact of secrecy on civil liberties, the changing role of technology in intelligence work, and the challenges of disinformation in a social media environment.
| MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS | |
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| On loan from a private collector. As seen in Genghis Khan: The Exhibition. | |
| EXHIBITMaster of Deception – Genghis KhanIn the 13th century, Mongol leader Genghis Khan conquered a vast territory from Southeast Asia to Eastern Europe — about twice the size of the Roman Empire. His cavalry had to be lean and mobile to cross great distances swiftly, yet also able to face down much larger forces, including those of China and Persia. Brilliant deceptions on and off the battlefield helped the Mongols create the appearance of a much larger force, instilling terror in their enemies’ ranks. View original Mongolian artifacts including this Ming Dynasty Genghis Khan statue (China, early 1400s) on display in the Museum’s Deception exhibit. LEARN MORE | |
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| SPY PROFILENoor Inayat Khan — An Unlikely HeroSpying That Shaped History GalleryBorn the royal daughter of an Indian pacifist, Noor Inayat Khan was an improbable candidate to become a wartime operative. Khan trained as a radio operator with Britain’s Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. In 1943, recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE), she became the first female wireless operator sent to occupied France. For three months, Khan carried a suitcase radio (over 30 pounds) and single-handedly maintained communications between London and occupied Paris, helping 30 Allied airmen escape while she evaded capture. She was arrested by the Gestapo and eventually executed. In 1949, Noor became the first woman of south Asian descent to be awarded the George Cross for her service in the SOE, the highest civilian decoration in the United Kingdom. LEARN MORE | |
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| COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTTu Zuochao’s Shapeless Radio, 2009 reproduction based on 1930s inventionOn loan from Tu Zuochao Exhibition 涂作潮陈列室Radio engineer Tu Zuochao invented his “shapeless radio” in the 1930s at his undercover radio repair shop in Japanese-occupied China. As a young party member, he was sent to train as a spy and radio engineer in the USSR. He tested ways to make transmissions harder to detect, leading to his ingenious invention: a “shapeless radio” that could change instantly from ordinary receiver to secret transmitter by removing a single wire. VIEW ARTIFACT | |
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| SPY HISTORYGeorge Takei — They Called Us EnemyAsian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult LiteratureActor and activist George Takei made history as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, the first Asian American to play a major character on television. Few know that young George and his family along with 120,000 Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps during WWII. He shares his experiences in a riveting memoir, They Called Us Enemy. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon — and America itself — in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love. Watch a new interview with Takei recalling his experience starring in a spy-themed Star Trek episode in our gallery License to Thrill. |
| FROM THE SPY STORE SHOP NOW | |
 Art Of War by Sun-TzuTranslated by Ralph Sawyer $16.99  They Called Us Enemy by George Takei$19.99  Code Name Madeleine: A Sufi Spy in Nazi-Occupied Paris by Arthur Magida$16.95 |
(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
