Simone Lawson
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom, are housed in the rotunda at the National Archives. The documents were moved to the National Archives in 1952, having previously been controlled by the State Department. The National Archives Building’s exhibition hall was specifically designed to house the precious documents in a climate-controlled space, with protection against fire and bomb attacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fire and bomb attacks | Protected against |
| Temperature | Climate-controlled |
| Building safety | Rated safest in Washington area |
| Location | National Archives Building |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is stored in a climate-controlled space at the National Archives
- The National Archives is rated as the safest building in the Washington area
- The Constitution is stored in a Mosler safe
- The Constitution was previously stored in a cabinet within the departmental library
- The Constitution was moved to the National Archives in 1952
The US Constitution is stored in a climate-controlled space at the National Archives
The National Archives Building’s exhibition hall was specifically designed to house the precious documents in a climate-controlled space. The Librarian of Congress pointed out that there was little protection against fire or bomb attacks at the Library of Congress, and there were no temperature controls, causing the parchments to expand and contract, and become damaged. In contrast, the National Archives Building was rated as the safest in the Washington area by the Public Buildings Service, a department dedicated to maintaining federal buildings.
The US Constitution is displayed in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The document on display is a transcription of the original, inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment. The spelling and punctuation reflect the original.
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The National Archives is rated as the safest building in the Washington area
The documents were previously displayed in a cabinet within the departmental library of the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). However, there was little protection against fire or bomb attacks, and no temperature controls, causing the parchments to continually expand and contract, resulting in damage.
In 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, but insisted that Congress and President Truman needed to approve the move. The documents were transferred to the National Archives that same year, and the building became one of the most popular places to visit in Washington, DC.
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The Constitution is stored in a Mosler safe
The US Constitution is stored in a Mosler safe at the National Archives. The National Archives is home to the Charters of Freedom, which include the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. These documents were moved to the National Archives in 1952, where they are protected in a climate-controlled space designed to house precious documents. The National Archives Building has been rated as the safest in the Washington area by the Public Buildings Service.
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The Constitution was previously stored in a cabinet within the departmental library
The US Constitution was previously stored in a cabinet within the departmental library of the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). The document was displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia, and afterwards returned to the cabinet in the library, where it remained until 1894. It was then removed because it was fading.
The Constitution was moved to the National Archives in 1952, where it is now housed in a climate-controlled space. The National Archives Building was specifically designed to house precious documents, and is rated as the safest building in the Washington area. The move was approved by the Librarian of Congress, Congress, and President Truman.
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The Constitution was moved to the National Archives in 1952
The Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, but insisted that Congress and President Truman needed to approve the move. The National Archives Building’s exhibition hall was specifically designed to house the precious documents in a climate-controlled space, providing protection against fire and bomb attacks, as well as temperature controls to prevent damage to the parchments. The Public Buildings Service, a department dedicated to maintaining federal buildings, rated the National Archives Building as the safest in the Washington area.
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Frequently asked questions
The Charters of Freedom are housed in the rotunda at the National Archives.
The Charters of Freedom are the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights.
The Charters of Freedom moved to the National Archives in 1952.
The documents were moved to the National Archives because the Library of Congress had little protection against fire or bomb attacks and there were no temperature controls in the library, causing damage to the parchments.
The National Archives Building’s exhibition hall was specifically designed to house the precious documents in a climate-controlled space.
