On November 4, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed National Security Council Intelligence Directive no. 9, establishing the National Security Agency. For more than 50 years, NSA has diligently conducted its two-fold mission to provide and protect vital communication information.
The National Cryptologic Museum proudly shares NSA’s cryptologic heritage with the public, specifically in its 50th anniversary exhibit. This large display shows both crucial moments in Cold War history where cryptology played a role and some of the day-to-day activities and items from the past 50 years. Some of NSA’s bleaker memories, such as traitors Martin and Mitchell, and some of its brightest moments, like the intelligence provided during the Cuban Missile Crisis, are open for review. Also on display are some slightly humorous items including a Dundee Marmalade jar and a 1951 pay scale for federal government employees. State-of-the-art technology from pneumatic tube canisters to modern microchips can be found in the exhibits.
For some, this exhibit will bring back fond memories of their days at NSA. For others, it will provide an introduction to NSA’s mission and how the people who worked that mission influenced world events.