Jonah Patel
The US National Archives is home to the Charters of Freedom, which include the original Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The US Constitution was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment and is on permanent display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The National Archives Building, informally known as Archives I, is located north of the National Mall on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The National Archives is an independent agency of the US government within the executive branch, responsible for preserving and documenting government and historical records, as well as increasing public access to these documents. The National Archives Museum offers free entry, with timed tickets available to skip the public line. Visitors are advised to follow guidelines regarding bag size and content restrictions, and photography is encouraged in most public areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. |
| Storage | Stored in a 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb- and fire-proof safe with a specially designed elevator |
| Accessibility | Free entry, with timed tickets available to skip the line |
| Bag policy | One bag per person, with a maximum size of 17 x 26 inches |
| Food and drink policy | Food, chewing gum, and beverages are prohibited in the theatre and exhibition areas |
| Pet policy | Service animals allowed, pets and therapy animals prohibited |
| Photography | Non-flash photography is encouraged in all public areas |
| Wheelchairs | A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis |
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What You'll Learn
The National Archives Building
The National Archives Museum offers free entry, with timed entry tickets available to skip the public line. Visitors are subject to security measures, including bag restrictions and prohibitions on food, chewing gum, and beverages in the theater and exhibition areas. Non-flash photography is encouraged in public areas, and service animals are permitted. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25th.
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The US Constitution's journey
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, is collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom. These documents were under the control of the State Department before they found their home in the National Archives.
The Charters of Freedom were displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia and were subsequently returned to the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC. They were displayed in a cabinet within the departmental library until 1894, when they were removed due to fading. The documents remained in storage until 1920, when a committee was formed to advocate for their preservation and exhibition.
In 1930, designers for the National Archives added an exhibition hall to their plans, with the intention of creating a monumental exhibit space for the Charters of Freedom. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives building. The building's architect, John Russell Pope, commissioned artist Barry Faulkner to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda. These murals depicted the historical events surrounding the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
In 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, and President Truman approved the transfer. On December 13, 1952, the documents were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe. The safe included a specially designed elevator that allowed the documents to be stored in a secure vault at night and then raised into their display cases during the day.
Today, the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, houses the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives Museum. The museum offers free entry, with optional timed tickets available for a small fee. Visitors to the museum can view the Rotunda and following galleries, which exhibit the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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Preservation and documentation
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch. It is responsible for the preservation and documentation of government and historical records, as well as increasing public access to these documents. The National Archives Building, informally known as "Archives I", is located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The building holds all the key documents of the nation's founding, including the original United States Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and the United States Bill of Rights. These documents, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom, were transferred to the National Archives in 1952.
The National Archives Museum is situated in the heart of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Visitors can view the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda and following galleries of the National Archives Building. Entry to the museum is free, however, there is a $1.00 advance reservation fee for self-guided timed tickets. The museum has a bag policy that allows only one bag per person, with a size limit of 17 x 26 inches. Food, chewing gum, and beverages are prohibited in the theatre and exhibition areas. Non-flash photography is encouraged in all public areas.
The National Archives Building was designed with a monumental exhibit space for the Charters of Freedom. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives building. Artist Barry Faulkner was commissioned to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda, which depict the historical events surrounding the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The preservation and documentation of the Constitution are of utmost importance to NARA. The Archivist of the United States, who heads NARA, is responsible for administering the ratification process of constitutional amendments. NARA maintains and publishes legally authentic copies of acts of Congress, presidential directives, and federal regulations. It also examines Electoral College and constitutional amendment ratification documents for legal sufficiency and authenticating signatures. NARA's mission includes resolving Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disputes between federal agencies and requesters, as well as awarding grants to support the preservation and publication of historical records.
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Public access
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government, tasked with preserving and documenting government and historical records. NARA is also responsible for increasing public access to the documents that make up the National Archives. The most well-known facility of the National Archives is the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The building holds all the key documents of the nation's founding, including the original United States Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and the United States Bill of Rights. These documents, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom, were moved to the National Archives in 1952. They are on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Museum, which is situated in the heart of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The National Archives Museum offers free entry to the public. Visitors are required to abide by certain guidelines, such as restrictions on the size and number of bags, and prohibitions on food, beverages, and chewing gum in the theatre and exhibition areas. Pets and therapy animals are also prohibited, although service animals are allowed. Non-flash photography is encouraged in all public areas. Timed entry tickets are available for a $1.00 advance reservation fee. Tickets can be booked on the National Archives Museum's website, where visitors can also find information on exhibitions, such as the display of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The website also provides information on educational programmes for students, including webinars on topics like Voting Rights, the Constitution, and Representative Government.
The National Archives Building became home to the Charters of Freedom in 1952, after they were transferred from the State Department. The documents were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe. The safe included a specially designed elevator that allowed the documents to be stored in a secure vault at night and then raised into their display cases during the day. The building's architect, John Russell Pope, commissioned artist Barry Faulkner to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda, emphasising the intention to house and display the Charters of Freedom.
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The Charters of Freedom
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom, are housed in the National Archives. The documents were previously controlled by the State Department, displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876, and afterwards returned to the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC. They were removed in 1894 due to fading and remained in storage until 1920, when a committee was formed to advocate for their preservation and exhibition.
In 1930, designers for the National Archives added an exhibition hall to their plans, intending to create a monumental exhibit space for the Charters of Freedom. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives building, with artist Barry Faulkner commissioned to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda.
In 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, with President Truman approving the transfer immediately. The documents were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe with a specially designed elevator, allowing the documents to be stored in a secure vault at night and then raised into their display cases during the day.
The National Archives Museum, located in the heart of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is now home to the Charters of Freedom, including the original Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The museum offers free entry, with timed tickets available to skip the public line. Visitors are allowed one bag per person, with restrictions on bag size, and food, chewing gum, and beverages are prohibited in the theater and exhibition areas. Non-flash photography is encouraged in public areas.
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Frequently asked questions
They are stored at the National Archives Museum, located in the heart of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The documents were originally controlled by the State Department. In 1930, designers for the National Archives added an exhibition hall to their plans, intending to create a space for the Charters of Freedom. In 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives. The documents were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb- and fire-proof safe.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch. It is charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records, as well as increasing public access to those documents.
Entry to the National Archives is free. If you choose to reserve a self-guided timed ticket, a non-refundable $1.00 advance reservation convenience fee will be charged for each ticket. Visitors must abide by the guidelines on the National Archives Museum's website and by all instructions posted in the museum or provided by staff during the visit.
