🕵️ Spy Tech from Then to Now

STEM, Secrecy, and the Birth of a Nation

Step into the world of secret messages, hidden codes, and the STEM behind keeping information safe.

Through interactive, family-friendly challenges, visitors can explore how spies protected and uncovered information during the nation’s founding and discover how those ideas connect to modern encryption and cybersecurity.

🔐 This exhibit activity is included at no additional charge with paid Explorium admission or active membership.

Exhibit at a Glance

Dates, Hours, Admission, and Location

• Dates: July 1 through August 31, 2026
• Hours: Available during regular Long Island Explorium open hours
• Audience: Families, children, and caregivers
• Location: Long Island Explorium, Port Jefferson
• Activity Fee: No additional charge
• Admission: Participation is free with paid Explorium admission and included with active membership
• Format: Drop-in and self-guided, with staff support as available

🕵️ Visit during regular open hours and put your spy skills to the test!

About the Exhibit

Spy Tech from Then to Now: STEM, Secrecy, and the Birth of a Nation invites families to investigate secret communication through hands-on puzzles, code breaking, message making, and problem-solving challenges.

Visitors will explore how patterns, logic, ciphers, and creative thinking have been used to protect information throughout history. The experience connects early spy techniques from the nation’s founding to modern encryption, privacy, and cybersecurity.

Visitors can:

• Crack simple codes and solve spy puzzles
• Create and decode secret messages
• Explore patterns, logic, and early ciphers
• Discover local history connected to secrecy and communication
• Connect historic spy techniques to modern encryption and cybersecurity
• Work together, test ideas, and try different solutions

Designed for Families

Activities are designed for children and caregivers to explore together. The hands-on challenges encourage curiosity, teamwork, persistence, and creative problem solving while introducing important ideas about privacy, communication, and information security.

Challenges may rotate throughout the summer, giving families an opportunity to return and try something new.

What Young Explorers Will Discover

Children will leave thinking more deeply about patterns, logic, communication, and the many ways STEM helps protect information in everyday life.

Suffolk County 250th Anniversary Passport Program

The Long Island Explorium is a participating stop in the Suffolk County 250th Anniversary Passport Program. Visitors can collect a commemorative passport stamp during their visit.

Plan Your Visit

There is no separate fee or registration required for this activity. Participation is included at no additional charge with paid museum admission or active Long Island Explorium membership.

Activities are available on a drop-in basis during regular open hours. Please visit our Visit Us page for current museum hours, admission information, and visitor details:
https://longislandexplorium.org/visit-us/

Looking for Other Long Island Explorium Events?

View upcoming Long Island Explorium events, workshops, and registration options here:
https://www.longislandexplorium.org/Events

About the Long Island Explorium

Founded in 2005, the Long Island Explorium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and a launchpad for imagination and discovery. Through interactive exhibits, engaging workshops, and community events, the Explorium works to ignite curiosity and a lifelong passion for science and learning.

Long Island Explorium programs and exhibits are deeply rooted in research and evidence-based practices. Our educational experiences are aligned with New York State Science Learning Standards, ELA, Math, and Social Studies Standards.

This exhibit activity is included with regular Explorium admission. If you would like to help make hands-on STEM learning accessible to more children and families, please consider supporting the Long Island Explorium:
https://longislandexplorium.org/support-us/