Each year we offer several temporary exhibitions presenting a variety of topics. Visit the upcoming exhibitions schedule to learn more about what is booked to be on display, or view our list of past exhibitions to see what we have previously hosted.
The Peterborough Museum & Archives is open to the public by appointment only. If you wish to visit and view our exhibits, please call during our regular business hours to book your appointment. All bookings will be granted exclusive access to our exhibits, meaning you will not have to worry about crossing paths with other visitors.
Cipher | Decipher
July 6 through September 27, 2020
Pssst...want to know a secret?
One way to safely share secret information is through encryption - which means converting your message into something only the intended recipient can understand. For as long as we've had secret information, individuals and organizations have encrypted and analyzed encrypted communications. One way people can encrypt their secrets is through ciphers that replace the original message with other letters, numbers, words, or symbols. From schoolyard gossip to military plans, ciphers keep secrets out of the wrong hands.
Cipher | Decipher is an interactive, new exhibition exploring the past and present of communications cryptology - what it is, how it works, and how it affects our lives. See an authentic Enigma cipher machine and learn how it works, understand how to encrypt and decrypt secret messages, or try some logic puzzles and games to see if you have what it takes to work in the field of cryptology!
Please note that Cipher | Decipher is a highly interactive exhibition. Cleaning of all high-touch areas is done between each group of visitors. However, we ask that those engaging with the interactives please sanitize their hands before and after visiting this exhibition.
If you are looking for an added challenge during your visit of this exhibit, download the Actionbound app onto your smart device, and scan the QR code to participate in an interactive scavenger hunt!
Developed by the Canada Science and Technology Museum, in partnership with the Communications Security Establishment.
