National Archives

Located in Downtown Washington, the National Archives Museum displays important events and documents of the history of the United States of America. Original documents take you through significant moments in history when issues such as citizenship, freedom, slavery and rights were discussed and debated through the ages by prominent American leaders. On display here are original copies of...

The National Archives and Records Administration collects millions of documents, but you're probably familiar with at least two of them already: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Between 2001 and 2003, these founding documents were painstakingly cleaned, repaired, and vacuum-sealed in state-of-the-art encasements to preserve them for posterity and make them easier to read....

The Rotunda of the National Archives displays the country's most important original documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights (collectively known as the Charters of Freedom), as part of its exhibit, "The National Archives Experience." Fourteen document cases trace the story of the creation of the Charters and the ongoing...

The National Archives is a bombproof, fireproof facility that protects the nation's most treasured documents. The methods used for storing the documents safely are nearly as interesting as the documents themselves. Sealed glass vaults are raised into the exhibition areas for viewing each day but sink back into safety each night. Here, you will find the most significant of our national...