The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History hosted its inaugural Spyglass Festival from Jan. 15-17. This three-day event combined science and history through a range of activities celebrating the work of spies during World War II and the Cold War, as well as featured retired Central Intelligence Agency officer David Kitchen.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, Science on Tap featured specialty brews from Bombs Away Beer Company, a veteran-owned brewery and taproom in Albuquerque’s Skyline Heights neighborhood.
“We come here because we support the museum, because they support us, and we believe in our cause,” Kristen Mathieson, assistant brewer at Bombs Away Beer, said.
Kitchen shared insights on Soviet espionage during the Manhattan Project and various spy tactics used at the end of World War II. His topics included defenses for keeping secrets and the U.S. adversaries, as well as German, Japanese and Russian spy efforts. Kitchen also discussed the tradecraft of spying.
“I’m here because I love this museum. I’m passionate about the work I do, and telling the story. As someone who worked in the spy field, I think it is a great way to encapsulate how espionage still works. There is a lot of technological stuff, as well as the same basic trade and craft techniques,” Kitchen said.
On Friday, Jan. 16, guests attended a sold-out screening of “Bridge of Spies” in the museum’s Periodic Hall, learned about Cold War spycraft, and sampled two specialty brews from Bombs Away Beer.
On Saturday, Jan. 17, the museum offered free admission, hands-on STEM activities, guided tours of the new Artifact Center and the opportunity to meet experts from Sandia National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and other institutions. Museum attendees explored rare Cold War artifacts and visited local vendors. The festival concluded with Nuclear After Dark, a family-friendly evening featuring spy games, music, photo opportunities, and a screening of “Alamogordo, Center of the World.”
Bernadette Robins, Director of Communications at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, said that the museum has recently created a variety of events to engage the community.
“We’re always hoping to open up the story of the atomic age to people,” Robins said.
Elizabeth Bolke is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
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