It can be surreal to see the juxtaposition of ultra-secretive CIA spies suddenly sharing the threads of their lives. It's as if the veil of secrecy momentarily lifts, offering a blend of the clandestine and the personal.
The CIA's 258-acre campus with the 'Bubble' auditoriunm on the right
We love secrets, however, so we scoured the CIA website and asked a few people with shadowy backgrounds. Here’s what you’re allowed to know about the 258-acre George Bush Center for Intelligence without worrying about a knock on the door.
The CIA’s 1950s Igloo-Shaped Auditorium is Groovy
Walking into the CIA auditorium - nicknamed the ‘Bubble’ - is like entering a time machine that brings you back to the 1950s but with state-of-the-art multi-media equipment. The Bubble can accommodate 470 people and measures 7,000 sq. ft. The large plaster disks on the inside surface of the dome enhance the acoustics but who are the guest speakers? Our curiosity got the better of us so we peeked at the CIA declassified docs. Gurus in tech, international terrorism, and crisis management are on the CIA guest Wish List but so far we haven’t spotted any Spookstock rock bands.
Clandestine Caffeine
Within the confines of Langley’s food court, Starbucks operates inconspicuously but you can’t just saunter up and order a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte. Whether you choose to bring your own coffee or opt to purchase a meal, clearance is a prerequisite. Cafeteria staff undergo a rigorous vetting process, and they are strictly prohibited from asking any questions - and that includes names, aliases, or even numbers. CIA officers are reluctant to provide even fake information, fearing any traceability back to their true identity.
The Langley Field House Gym
The CIA opened its gym in 2022 and, by the looks of this Agency snapshot, even the pixelated TV monitors are top secret. Nonetheless, the leafy Zen vibe and state-of-the-art equipment at Langley Field House could help the CIA attract and retain candidates as they compete for top talent with Silicon Valley and the investment banks. There’s even a wheelchair trainer to improve cardio that can also be used for spin classes. Apparently the CIA's former sweaty basement gym was no match for the FBI's basketball court where Barack Obama used hang out and shoot hoops.
No selfies. Period.
The CIA sign that greets those entering Langley seems pretty straightforward - ie, you can’t smuggle in your iPhone and fire off a few pics for Instagram. But we were curious about the small print as well: what exactly is ‘32 C.F.R. 1903’? It seems there’s a law overseeing conduct on CIA property. In addition to recording devices, you’re also banned from bringing explosives, weapons, open alcohol, controlled substances, and fliers. And don’t even think about altering your parking permit. Chances are, you’re on camera.
This story is part of our weekly briefing. Sign up to receive the FREE briefing to your inbox.
It can be surreal to see the juxtaposition of ultra-secretive CIA spies suddenly sharing the threads of their lives. It's as if the veil of secrecy momentarily lifts, offering a blend of the clandestine and the personal.
The CIA's 258-acre campus with the 'Bubble' auditoriunm on the right
We love secrets, however, so we scoured the CIA website and asked a few people with shadowy backgrounds. Here’s what you’re allowed to know about the 258-acre George Bush Center for Intelligence without worrying about a knock on the door.
The CIA’s 1950s Igloo-Shaped Auditorium is Groovy
Walking into the CIA auditorium - nicknamed the ‘Bubble’ - is like entering a time machine that brings you back to the 1950s but with state-of-the-art multi-media equipment. The Bubble can accommodate 470 people and measures 7,000 sq. ft. The large plaster disks on the inside surface of the dome enhance the acoustics but who are the guest speakers? Our curiosity got the better of us so we peeked at the CIA declassified docs. Gurus in tech, international terrorism, and crisis management are on the CIA guest Wish List but so far we haven’t spotted any Spookstock rock bands.
Clandestine Caffeine
Within the confines of Langley’s food court, Starbucks operates inconspicuously but you can’t just saunter up and order a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte. Whether you choose to bring your own coffee or opt to purchase a meal, clearance is a prerequisite. Cafeteria staff undergo a rigorous vetting process, and they are strictly prohibited from asking any questions - and that includes names, aliases, or even numbers. CIA officers are reluctant to provide even fake information, fearing any traceability back to their true identity.
The Langley Field House Gym
The CIA opened its gym in 2022 and, by the looks of this Agency snapshot, even the pixelated TV monitors are top secret. Nonetheless, the leafy Zen vibe and state-of-the-art equipment at Langley Field House could help the CIA attract and retain candidates as they compete for top talent with Silicon Valley and the investment banks. There’s even a wheelchair trainer to improve cardio that can also be used for spin classes. Apparently the CIA's former sweaty basement gym was no match for the FBI's basketball court where Barack Obama used hang out and shoot hoops.
No selfies. Period.
The CIA sign that greets those entering Langley seems pretty straightforward - ie, you can’t smuggle in your iPhone and fire off a few pics for Instagram. But we were curious about the small print as well: what exactly is ‘32 C.F.R. 1903’? It seems there’s a law overseeing conduct on CIA property. In addition to recording devices, you’re also banned from bringing explosives, weapons, open alcohol, controlled substances, and fliers. And don’t even think about altering your parking permit. Chances are, you’re on camera.
Ambush in Manchuria, part of the CIA Operational Collection gallery
The Operational Collection Art Gallery
Roaming the renowned HQ means immersing yourself in clandestine culture. 'The Operational Collection’ - around the corner from the Memorial Wall - includes more than 20 artworks that reflect operations in peacetime and war so a significant portion of the artwork captures scenes of action. "The Agency leverages these artworks to reinforce and convey its identity and corporate ethos, serving as a bridge for new officers to connect with the organization's history," former CIA officer and SPYEX consultant Doug Patteson told SPYSCAPE.
CIA art: Black Rhythm by Gene Davis
The CIA has a secret modern art collection
Speculation swirls around the CIA's abstract art collection as well, with online photos prompting questions about the collection’s possible hidden agenda. The Agency denies any covert motives, emphasizing the role of paintings is breaking up wall space and fostering a creative connection to the HQ’s architecture. Officers are encouraged to analyze the art critically, aiming to enhance problem-solving skills with renewed creativity.
The CIA Kryptos sculpture remains an enigma
The Kryptos Code Remains Unsolved
The CIA are an analytical bunch but they haven’t solved the Kryptos sculpture challenge. The artwork is much larger than the snaking copper sheet containing four coded panels that have stumped cryptologists, mathematicians, and amateur code-crackers for more than three decades. The final panel - containing 97 of the world’s most exasperating letters - is unsolved. SPYSCAPE tracked down David Sheldon, a young artist who, in 1990, helped with the installation of Kryptos on the CIA grounds but he wasn’t giving away any secrets. We also contacted Kryptos sculptor Jim Sanborn but he’d only offer a two-word clue to decipher the final Kryptos panel - ‘Work Harder!’
The CIA’s Historical Statues
HQ also features statues of Harriet Tubman and Nathan Hale. Tubman’s statue was unveiled in 2022 to honor the Underground Railroad and Civil War hero, although critics noted the move was also part of an effort by the CIA to boost diversity at an Agency where minorities are underrepresented. Nathan Hale’s statue is between the Bubble and the Original Headquarters Building (known as OHB if you are on staff at ‘The Company’.) Hale was 21 when he became the first American executed for spying for his country. This statue, a copy of the original created in 1914 for Yale, was erected on the grounds in 1973, a constant reminder to staff about the duties and sacrifices of intelligence officers.
The CIA Memorial Wall had 140 stars in 2023
Memorial Wall
The CIA Memorial Wall silently honors 140 operatives who lost their lives in service to the US. Carved into the white Alabama marble of the OHB lobby, each star represents an officer lost in the line of duty. The adjacent Book of Honor records their sacrifices. Officially, the first female CIA officer to die in the line of duty and receive a star was Barbara Robbins, 21, killed in 1967 - two years after joining the Agency - when terrorists bombed the US Embassy in South Vietnam.
The CIA Museum
The CIA’s private museum is bursting with cool gadgets and questionable projects like Charlie, the robotic catfish designed in the 1990s to test the possibility of unmanned, underwater vehicles. Charlie's tail conceals a pressure hull, ballast system, communications, and a propulsion system. The CIA isn’t saying if Charlie was used to gather intelligence or just water samples, but it's likely Charlie didn’t mind swimming against the tide. If you can’t score an invite to the CIA museum, try the next best thing - YouTube. The Agency has allowed media to post video online.
The CIA library has 125,000 books in addition to online access
Does anyone have a better library than the CIA?
If there’s a better spy library on Earth we’d love to see it. The CIA Library, an exclusive resource for Agency personnel, boasts around 125,000 books and subscribes to 1,700 periodicals. The Whaley Collection has to be our favorite though. Known as the ‘Whaley Denial and Deception Collection’, it contains materials on magic, lying, and even methods used by catchers and pitchers to communicate during baseball games - a handy tool for spies thrown a curve ball.
This story is part of our weekly briefing. Sign up to receive the FREE briefing to your inbox.
Gadgets & Gifts
Put your spy skills to work with these fabulous choices from secret notepads & invisible inks to Hacker hoodies & high-tech handbags. We also have an exceptional range of rare spy books, including many signed first editions.
We all have valuable spy skills - your mission is to discover yours. See if you have what it takes to be a secret agent, with our authentic spy skills evaluation* developed by a former Head of Training at British Intelligence. It's FREE so share & compare with friends now!
.jpg)
