Jonah Patel
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were both debated, signed, and adopted in 1776 and 1787, respectively, in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Independence Hall, initially called the Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753 and served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. It is now a historic landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the building | Independence Hall |
| Location | Philadelphia, PA |
| Year of Construction | 1732-1753/1756 |
| Architect | Attorney Andrew Hamilton in collaboration with master builder Edmund Woolley |
| Style | American Georgian architecture |
| Current Use | Historic Landmark |
| Previous Uses | Pennsylvania State House, museum, municipal building |
| Significance | The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated, signed, and adopted here |
| Designation | World Heritage Site by UNESCO |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are in the National Archives
- The documents were previously stored in the State, War, and Navy Building
- The Charters of Freedom are displayed in the Rotunda
- The documents are protected by bulletproof titanium cases
- The National Archives Building is located on Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are in the National Archives
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are together known as the Charters of Freedom. Before they were moved to the National Archives in 1952, these documents were controlled by the State Department.
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. It was debated and ratified in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776, and is now celebrated as Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence, along with the Constitution, was signed in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was drafted, debated, and ratified during the Constitutional Convention, which was held in Independence Hall from May to September 1787. The Constitution was signed in 1787, now celebrated as Constitution Day.
In 1930, designers for the National Archives added an exhibition hall to their plans, with the intention of creating a space to house 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 depict the historical events surrounding the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
In 1952, the Charters of Freedom were moved to the National Archives in a procession of tanks in an armored personnel carrier. Upon arrival, the documents were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel-and-concrete, bomb-and-fire-proof safe. The National Archives then held all the key documents of the nation's founding, and the building became one of the most popular places to visit in Washington, DC.
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The documents were previously stored in the State, War, and Navy Building
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated, signed, and adopted at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Independence Hall, initially called the Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753 and served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. It is considered one of the most recognizable buildings in the United States.
The State Department occupied the south wing, which included the Secretary of State's office and the diplomatic reception room, where many historic documents were signed. In 1882, due to space constraints, the War and Navy Departments moved into the fourth floor and attic of the south wing, resulting in a significant reduction in space for the State Department. The building, with its nearly two miles of black and white tiled corridors, was considered the largest office building in Washington at the time.
The Navy Department was the first to vacate the EEOB between 1918 and 1921, followed by the War Department in 1938, and finally the State Department in 1947. The building has since been designated a National Historic Landmark and houses various agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President.
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The Charters of Freedom are displayed in the Rotunda
The Charters of Freedom are the three documents considered fundamental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. They are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence was debated, adopted, and signed in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. The Constitution was also debated, ratified, and signed in the same room on September 17, 1787.
The Rotunda was renovated in 2003 to ensure the Charters' safekeeping. The Charters are displayed in low light and cool temperatures to reduce the effects of heat and light on the documents. In 2002, the Charters were removed from their original encasements and placed in newly constructed, hermetically sealed encasements in an argon atmosphere with a relative humidity of only 25 to 35%.
The Charters of Freedom have been on display in the Rotunda since December 13, 1952. The Rotunda also features a dual display of the "Formation of the Union", which includes documents related to the evolution of the U.S. government between 1774 and 1791, such as the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (1778) and Washington's First Inaugural Address (1789).
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The documents are protected by bulletproof titanium cases
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are America's founding documents, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom. These documents are now on display at the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.
The documents were not always treated with such reverence. Before their move to the National Archives in 1952, the documents were passed between various government buildings, often with little regard for their preservation. The Declaration of Independence was tacked to a wall in direct sunlight for several decades, causing it to fade. It was also rolled and unrolled many times, becoming creased, stained, ripped, and faded. The Constitution was also treated with similar carelessness, being shuffled from one unremarkable storage building to another.
In 1952, the Charters of Freedom were moved to the National Archives, where they are now protected by bulletproof titanium cases. The cases are filled with noble, non-reactive argon gas to protect the documents from the elements. The Charters are also examined by a $3.3 million monitoring system designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, which can detect signs of damage before they are visible to the human eye. The enclosure was fabricated using lightweight aluminum and titanium into a waffle-like structure, allowing for stiffness and flexibility. The titanium used was Commercially Pure Grade 2 Titanium, which has excellent formability and decent strength characteristics, along with superior corrosion resistance. The titanium frame was then plated with a nickel alloy, beveled, and coated in 24-karat gold.
The Charters of Freedom are considered the most revered documents in American history, and the National Archives is one of the most popular places to visit in Washington, D.C. Tourists from around the world make pilgrimages to view these important historical documents.
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The National Archives Building is located on Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets
The National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, is a significant repository of America's most important historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The building's exhibition hall was specifically designed to be a monumental exhibit space for these precious founding documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom.
The National Archives Building has played a crucial role in preserving and showcasing America's foundational texts. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives. This decision underscored the importance of these documents in the nation's history and their rightful place in a purpose-built facility.
The building's architect, John Russell Pope, further emphasised this intention by commissioning artist Barry Faulkner to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda. These murals depict the historical events surrounding the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, providing a visual representation of the nation's founding moments.
Prior to their move to the National Archives in 1952, the Charters of Freedom had a somewhat turbulent history in terms of preservation and storage. They were displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia and then returned to Washington, DC, where they were housed in various locations, including the State, War, and Navy Building (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building).
The Declaration of Independence, in particular, had a peripatetic existence, being moved to multiple locations in the late 1800s and even hidden from the British in Leesburg, Virginia, in 1814. Concerns about proper preservation and security eventually led to the decision to transfer the Charters of Freedom to the National Archives, which was considered the safest building in the Washington area at the time.
Today, the National Archives Building stands as a testament to America's commitment to preserving its historical records. The building's location on Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, serves as a reminder of the country's foundational values and principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution and Declaration of Independence are kept in the National Archives in Washington, DC.
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights were moved to the National Archives in 1952.
The documents were moved to the National Archives because the Library of Congress did not have adequate protection against fire or bomb attacks, and there were no temperature controls, which caused damage to the documents. The National Archives Building, on the other hand, was specifically designed to house the documents in a climate-controlled and secure space.
Construction of the National Archives Building began in 1933, and it was completed in 1937. The building was designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy, with an ornate exterior and a majestic domed ceiling.
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, collectively known as the Charters of Freedom, are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. They have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries.
