Fall 2013 Distinguished Honors Faculty Series with Dr. Jeremy Blum ~ 1 of 2

 

          How did the 16-day government shutdown affect students at Penn State Harrisburg?  While some of us encountered difficulty accessing federal websites for our research, others missed the opportunity to visit the Pentagon.  Despite the cancellation of the highly anticipated Segway tour, eleven Honors students made their way to the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. with Dr. Jeremy Blum, Associate Professor of Computer Science, on October 5, 2013. 

          After enjoying a delicious Tex-Mex lunch at Austin Grill in downtown Washington, we walked to the International Spy Museum which was about two blocks away.  Dr. Blum wondered if we could find anything related to Edward Snowden in the Museum.  Perhaps it was a little too sensitive for the Museum to collect, but for James Bond fans, they were treated with an exhibit about Ian Fleming and his World War II experience that inspired the creation of  Dr. No, the first Bond movie. The Museum also showcased the history of spying across cultures, from the Japanese Ninja to the Greek Trojan Horse. Believe it or not, according to the Museum, the city with the highest spy population is our nation's capital, and George Washington is "America's First Spymaster."  Indeed, one of the highlights of our trip was seeing George Washington's original letter to Nathaniel Sackett, an American who collected intelligence for Washington about the British troops in 1777.  The Museum would like to share this authentic document while maintaining its quality, and it is only on display for two months annually. Fortunately, we were able to have a glimpse of it before it hibernates. 

 

                      

 By Rosemary Yee