On Tue, 3 Jan 2012, Mark Kahrs wrote:
Over the break I visited the NSA's museum (just a
stone's throw from Ft.
Meade). For those who like crypto machines, it is definitely, definitely
worth a visit. The curators and staff are very enthusiastic (they even
brought out a machine from the back vault) and of course you can buy an NSA
t-shirt if your heart desires. They had a mix-up with the Y-MP processor
board and memory board on display (I told them) but otherwise it's fun just
to see a Cray I up-close-and-personal. They have the tape jukebox being
run from a PC. And the CM is flashing lights, but that's about it. The
modern crypto gear is shown but the commentary is sparse at best. (In case
you're wondering, the boxes are empty -- so I was told). There is little
mention of public key cryptosystems. Or controversial questions like key
length or key escrow.
I went about six years ago and while I was there I asked if I could take
some of the skins off the CM5 and the Cray. The docent relayed my query to
some guy behind a desk who shrugged and went 'Sure'. So I took them apart
while other people wandered through the museum and took pictures of the
insides.
I liked the place.
- JP