Archives in DC
Plan your visit to the National Archives Museum, home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
National Archives Museum: 701 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20408
National Archives Research Center: 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20408
Open Daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Timed entry tickets are not required, but are recommended to avoid long wait times to enter the building.
Upcoming Renovation
The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is redesigning its permanent galleries, learning center, and theater. To prepare the new spaces, the Boeing Learning Center will close to the public on June 15, and the Public Vaults exhibition will close on July 5. The National Archives Rotunda—home to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—will remain open during the renovation. The Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery, the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, and the National Archives Store will also remain open. For more information, click here.
This once-in-a-generation renovation is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025 and will be part of the Archives’ celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence the following year.
Can’t make it to the building?
Each week on Tuesdays, we are digging through our holdings to tell you more about the American Experience: stories of inspiration, entertainment, and, when you need a laugh, a few unusual or silly relics from our past.
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| Archives Experience |
Permanent Exhibitions
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, located on the upper level of the National Archives museum, is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.
The “Public Vaults” is a permanent exhibition in the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. Here, you can experience the feeling of going beyond the walls of the Rotunda into the stacks and vaults of the National Archives.
Records of Rights“Records of Rights” in the David M. Rubenstein Gallery incorporates stories of many individuals, including African-Americans, women, and immigrants, whose struggle for rights in the decades following the Declaration of Independence is documented in records at the National Archives.
Special Exhibitions
The National Archives Museum’s Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery is home to temporary exhibitions that draw from the billions of records in the National Archives’ holdings nationwide, allowing visitors to explore such topics as the government’s effect on food, photography from the 1970s, the Civil War, and the inside story of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Theater
The 290-seat William G. McGowan Theater is located on the lower level of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. The theater hosts lectures, films, book talks, and more.
Learning Center
The Boeing Learning Center is located on the upper floor of the National Archives Museum. Inside, visitors can explore many family-friendly activities for all ages. In the activity space, there are hands-on projects, document facsimiles, and many online resources, as well as knowledgeable Archives staff and volunteers ready to answer any questions.
Museum Store
The National Archives Store on the entrance level of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is operated by the National Archives Foundation. Purchases support National Archives exhibits, programs, and educational initiatives.
