Today's excursion had our group reuniting with Tour Guide Gary and journeying by train to Bletchley Park. Bletchley Park was home to cryptographers, linguists, code breakers, and more during WWII. During our tour we learned both the history of the campus and its place within the war effort. We also gained a basic education in the technologies created to encrypt and decipher messages sent during the war, the thoughts behind these technologies, and the processes used to develop and maintain these technologies.
The mansion at Bletchley Park.
We began with a calm, half hour train ride from Euston Station to Bletchley Park, by way of the National Rail Service. This allowed us time to view the countryside in peace, a welcome change from a hot bus or crowded underground. After arriving in Bletchley, we walked a short distance to Bletchley Park. The land and mansion had been purchased by the government prior to World War II, when it was clear that a location was needed for focus on deciphering messages intercepted from other, likely hostile nations. The location was chosen for several reasons, including both proximity to and distance from London, as well as being adjacent to both highway and railway. While many people were recruited to work at Bletchley, the work being done was kept secret, and rarely would anyone know what other buildings were working on.
Some images from our day at Bletchley Park.
Touring the facility, both with a guide and on our own, allowed us to get a glimpse into the lives of those who worked tirelessly all those years ago, and whose work likely ended the war early, saving countless lives. The staff, mostly women, worked long, hard shifts in tight quarters. While touring the huts that had been constructed as workrooms, we were greeted by projections of people going about their daily tasks and facsimiles of room decor. The larger blocks housed more themed exhibits, with photographs, artifacts, short films, and displays on warfare and tactics.
Some images from our day at Bletchley Park.
By the end of our visit, I found that Bletchley Park felt far smaller than I had originally perceived it. The sheer number of humans living and working within this space, and the massive machines they needed to maintain, was beyond what I had thought when first walking in to this spacious estate. Bits and pieces scattered throughout the museum gave insight to the people who worked here, adding a layer of humanity I had not previously attached with a location that's so important to technological progress. In all, it was not the reaction I expected to have, but I am glad to have had the experience to learn.
Some images from our day at Bletchley Park.
After touring Bletchley Park, our group walked nearby to The National Museum of Computing. This museum has a long history with Bletchley Park and maintains many of the machines either from BP or replicating those from BP. After WWII, the machines responsible for deciphering enemy code were broken down. The National Museum of Computing seeks to rebuild and maintain these machines, sharing the history of computing and technological advances with interested parties. 
Images taken at The National Museum of Computing.
This museum is not the seemingly vast field with many structures, like Bletchley Park. Instead it's one building with a maze of hallways and separate rooms for displays, exhibits, and preservation. We were invited to two different presentations, one on the Enigma Machine and one on the Colossus and its progenitors. Both presentations were insightful, engaging, and lead by very passionate people who clearly enjoyed speaking to the subject matter. After reading about these technologies at BP, it was lovely to get a well paced and tailored introduction to their workings, and I felt I better understood after this.
Images taken at The National Museum of Computing.
We did not end up with much time to explore the exhibits after these presentations, but we did manage to walk through everything and get a peek. The National Museum of Computing was full of fun, quirky tidbits and interactive areas, including computers and video games inviting you to sit awhile and try an older technology while also learning how that technology works. I was highly impressed with this museum and was very glad to have been able to visit.
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