Omar Bennett
The original copy of the US Constitution is currently on display at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. The document was originally written in 1787 and signed by President Washington, but when it first went into effect, the founding fathers showed little interest in the original copy. It was only in 1883 that a historian named J. Franklin Jameson found the original Constitution in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building. Since then, the document has undergone preservation efforts to keep it safe and legible, and it has been displayed in various locations, including the Library of Congress and the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 2003, the Constitution was moved to more modern encasements with improved preservation techniques, and it continues to be accessible to the public, attracting millions of visitors each year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | National Archives Building in Washington, DC |
| Display name | The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom |
| Preservation method | Sealed between two glass plates with controlled humidity and gelatin film to protect from light and moisture |
| Accessibility | Open to the public with ticket purchase |
| Historical context | Found in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building by historian J. Franklin Jameson in 1883 |
| Number of remaining final printings | 12 complete, 1 incomplete |
| Date of sealing | 1894 |
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What You'll Learn
- The original copy of the US Constitution is kept in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC
- The document was found in 1883 by historian J. Franklin Jameson
- The Constitution was placed between two glass plates and stored in a safe in 1894
- In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a public display of the Constitution
- The document was moved to the National Archives in 1952
The original copy of the US Constitution is kept in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC
When the Constitution was first written, the original copies were not considered particularly important. This is perhaps why the original copy was only discovered in 1883 by a historian named J. Franklin Jameson, who found it in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building. The document was not sealed until 1894, when it was placed between two glass plates and stored in a safe.
The Constitution has had a somewhat nomadic existence. In 1924, it was displayed at the Library of Congress, where it was protected by special absorbent cellulose paper and sealed between two panes of insulated plate glass. During World War II, it was moved to the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping. In 1951, a study was conducted to examine how the document was stored, and the following year, it was re-encased in glass with improved preservation techniques.
The Constitution is now displayed in modern encasements, with controlled humidity and argon gas to preserve the document. The public can visit the National Archives Museum and see the original Constitution, which has millions of visitors each year.
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The document was found in 1883 by historian J. Franklin Jameson
The original copy of the US Constitution is currently kept in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. However, the document's journey to its current location is an interesting one, with the founding fathers showing little interest in the original piece of parchment. As a result, the original copy was only found in 1883 by historian J. Franklin Jameson (1859-1937).
Jameson found the document in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building. This discovery was significant as it ensured the preservation of a pivotal document in American history. Born in 1859, John Franklin Jameson led a distinguished career as a historian, making exemplary efforts to preserve the documentary history of the United States. He played a vital role in shaping history as a profession and a discipline.
One of his notable contributions was his work on the constitutional history of the United States during its formative period, specifically focusing on the years 1775-1789. This period was crucial as it encompassed the years leading up to and immediately following the adoption of the Constitution. Jameson's publications, such as "Essays in the Constitutional History of the United States in the Formative Period, 1775-1789," provided valuable insights into the historical context surrounding the creation and early years of the Constitution.
After its discovery by Jameson, the original Constitution underwent a series of preservation efforts to ensure its longevity. In 1894, it was sealed between two glass plates and stored in a safe. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge presented a public display of the Constitution at the Library of Congress, where it remained until 1941. During World War II, the document was moved to the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping.
In 1951, a study was conducted to examine the document's storage conditions, and it was subsequently re-encased in glass with improved preservation techniques, including special light filters, inert gas, and controlled humidity. These efforts continued in 2003 when the Constitution was moved to more modern encasements, further enhancing its preservation and accessibility for future generations.
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The Constitution was placed between two glass plates and stored in a safe in 1894
The US Constitution was not considered a significant document when it was first written. In fact, it was only in 1883 that a historian by the name of J. Franklin Jameson found the original copy in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building. Eleven years later, in 1894, the State Department finally sealed the document between two glass plates and stored it in a safe.
The preservation process of 1894 was the first of several that the Constitution has undergone. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a public display of the Constitution at the Library of Congress. To protect the document, it was placed on moisture-absorbent cellulose paper and sealed between two panes of insulated plate glass. A gelatin film was also added to protect the document from light.
In 1941, during World War II, the Constitution was moved to the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping. It remained there until September 1944. In 1951, a study was conducted to examine the way the Constitution was stored, and it was re-encased in glass with special light filters, inert gas, and more favorable humidity.
The document was moved to the National Archives in 1952, where it was hermetically sealed between glass plates and filled with inert helium gas to protect it from the corrosive effects of normal air. Despite these efforts, small white spots began to appear on the document. It was discovered that this was due to the interaction between the elevated concentration of water vapor and the encasement glass, which caused the leaching of alkaline material from the surface material.
In 2003, the Constitution was moved to more modern encasements, with a gap between the surface of the document and the top layer of glass, and the humidity was properly controlled to 25-35%. Argon gas was used instead of helium to further preserve the document. Today, the original copy of the Constitution is still kept in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, where it is displayed alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
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In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a public display of the Constitution
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a public display of the US Constitution at the Library of Congress. This was not the original copy of the Constitution, which was found in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building by historian J. Franklin Jameson in 1883. The original copy was not sealed until 1894, when it was placed between two glass plates and stored in a safe.
The 1924 display of the Constitution was a significant event during Coolidge's presidency, which was also marked by several other notable occurrences. Coolidge became president in 1923, following the death of President Warren G. Harding, and was nominated for a second term in 1924. During his time in office, Coolidge advocated for African Americans' civil rights and repeatedly called for laws to make lynching a federal crime. He also ended the US occupation of the Dominican Republic and vetoed several bills, including the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill and the World War soldiers' bonus bill. Coolidge's presidency was also marked by personal tragedy, as his younger son, Calvin Jr., died in 1924 at the age of 16.
The preservation and protection of the Constitution have been a continuous process. In 1941, during World War II, the document was moved to the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping. In 1951, a study was conducted to examine the storage conditions, and the Constitution was re-encased in glass with improved preservation techniques. In 1952, it was moved to the National Archives, where it is currently on display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
Today, the original copy of the Constitution is carefully preserved and protected at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. The document is stored under controlled humidity levels and inert gas, with special light filters and a gap between the surface and the top layer of glass. The National Archives Museum is open to the public, allowing visitors to view the Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
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The document was moved to the National Archives in 1952
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom, were originally controlled by the State Department. They were displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 and then returned to the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a public display of the Constitution at the Library of Congress. In 1941, during World War II, the Constitution was moved to the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping. It remained there until 1944. In 1951, the Library of Congress attempted to improve the preservation of the Charters of Freedom by encasing them in helium-filled cases.
Finally, in 1952, the Charters of Freedom were moved to the National Archives. This transfer was supported by every president from Herbert Hoover to Harry Truman. On April 30, 1952, Congress approved the transfer, and on December 13, 1952, the documents were transported to the Archives in an armoured personnel carrier. The documents were then placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and-fireproof safe. This move ensured that the Charters of Freedom were accessible to the public, fulfilling the belief that records belong to the people and should be preserved and accessible.
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Frequently asked questions
The original copy of the US Constitution is on display at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
When the US Constitution was first written, the original copies were not given much thought. In 1883, a historian named J. Franklin Jameson found the original copy in a box in a closet in the State, War, and Navy Building.
In 1894, the original copy was sealed between two glass plates and stored in a safe. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge unveiled a public display of the Constitution at the Library of Congress, where it was protected from moisture and light. In 1952, the Constitution was re-encased in glass with light filters, inert gas, and controlled humidity. In 2003, it was moved to modern encasements with argon gas and a gap between the document and the glass to further preserve it.
