See some of the documents that forged a nation.
The National Archives is home to the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the
Bill of Rights.
The National Archives is a fascinating
collection of the documents that have formed the nation. Documents that have only been
described in history books are brought to life when seen personally, so adolescents and
adults will appreciate the exhibits more than children will. Daily tours are available
weekdays at 10:15 AM and 1:15 PM, but special in-depth tours can be arranged.
Some of the documents on display are the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase complete with
Napoleon Bonaparte’s signature and the Bill of Rights. Some of the display cases are
almost as interesting as what they contain because of the preservation and security
protocols involved. For example, the Constitution is housed in a bulletproof case that is
illuminated with green light and then filled with helium gas. Obviously, flash photography
is strictly prohibited.
The National Archives’ exhibits include
more than just documents. It has the rifle used by lee Harvey Oswald to assassinate
President Kennedy and numerous photos chronicling moments in American history.
The average stay in the archives is about 45
minutes, but can easily be longer because the Archives is a great place to cool off and
rest from the summer heat. There are plenty of seats and the building itself designed by
John Russell Pope is beautiful.
