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The Words That Built America
  • Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017 - Wednesday, September 20, 2017
  • Time: 11:00 pm
  • Location: William G. McGowan Theater, Washington, DC

Narrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough, The Words That Built America (2017; 50 minutes) in an unabridged reading of the authentic words of our founding fathers. Joining us to introduce the film will be Director-Producer Alexandra Pelosi, who brought together more than 100 readers, including all the living Presidents and Vice Presidents, as well as Supreme Court justices, Cabinet secretaries, and the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, along with a wide array of celebrities, leading media figures, and young people to read these iconic documents.

Reserve a seat

All public programs at the National Archives are free. Reservations are recommended; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. Click here for more information on getting to the National Archives and parking.

Live captioning will be available online and in the William G. McGowan Theater. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for an event (such as a downloadable transcript or a sign language interpreter), please send an email to public.program@nara.gov or call 202.357.5000 in advance.