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| We did not see Nicholas Cage, however that makes you feel. photo credit |
We walked from the office to Union Station, where we took the Red Line to Gallery Place. From there, it was a quick three-block walk to the Archives. It's a beautiful building, which is only fitting for the home of our important documents.
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| photo credit |
When you walk into the building, you have to go through a metal detector and bag scanner (like at the airport, but at this one, you put everything in the buckets, including your bag). The people working at security are very focused on being efficient. Tip: You can leave your belt on.
You'll end right outside the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, which is home to the Record of Rights exhibit, a collection of documents and interactive stations (see below) that chronicles the history of individual rights in the United States. It's a really cool exhibit, and it covers everything from the Magna Carta (including a copy from 1297, the version that remains in statute today) to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which is on display until September 17) and more!
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| This table is like a giant iPad, with 8 stations that allow you to look at documents and events throughout history that have been important to individual rights in the U.S. You can even share your reaction to the information with other people using the table! photo credit |
If you've been by the Archives recently, you've seen the banner at the entrance that advertises the current exhibit, Making their Mark: Stories Through Signatures. This exhibit is on the second floor, and features signatures from various famous people throughout history. Some highlights: the Dalai Lama's signature, Michelle Obama's dress from the night that President Obama was elected in 2008, and a letter from the current lead archivist when he was a child to then-President Eisenhower, asking for a signed photograph (which is also on display).
And, of course, the Archives are home to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Located in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, on the second floor, these famous documents are swarmed with people. Above, the Faulkner murals featuring the founding fathers (aptly-titled The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States) look down on the crowds. You'll have to wait in line twice, once to get into the actual rotunda, and once to get up close to the Constitution. In the pre-rotunda line, there are some TV screens and signs that highlight historical facts about the documents, in order to keep you entertained and educated. When you're in line in the Rotunda, you can choose which side to approach from. Both sides feature educational displays about the documents and the men who wrote them. If you approach from the right, you'll see the Bill of Rights, usually less crowded than the other documents, and very inspirational. If you approach from the left, you'll see the Declaration of Independence. Obviously, you should do both. Straight ahead of the entrance to the rotunda is the Constitution, and it is, presumably, constantly surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. There are security guards on either side of the three panels, one of whom reminded us, "Folks, do not try to read the entire Constitution. You can buy a copy downstairs, you can pull it up on your smartphone. This is a viewing, not a reading."
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| This is the rotunda. You can see the murals, and the people looking at the documents. I don't think it's ever been this empty aside from this photo shoot. photo credit |
Tip: If you don't want to go through all of the displays to see the famous documents, you don't have to, but you'll probably get some dirty looks, and won't be able to get as close. Plus, you'll miss out on the educational experience!
In conclusion, the National Archives are definitely worth a visit - after all, they're free, and they're home to the most important documents in American history. The museum curators have done a great job of making something that could be boring (pieces of old paper) into something very interesting, exciting, and interactive. It doesn't take a long visit, which gives you plenty of time to check out other attractions in the area!
What to Bring
Nothing special. There's no food, drink, or chewing gum allowed in the museum, and it's pretty hard to find a trashcan. There's a cafe on the ground floor, near the gift shop. Tip: According to National Treasure, the copies of the Declaration in the gift shop cost $35, but in the gift shop, they're only $10!
What You'll Spend
Nothing, unless you buy some food or souvenirs.
How to Get There
There's a metro stop devoted to the National Archives; it's on the Yellow Line one stop south of Gallery Place. If you prefer not to switch lines, the Archives are walkable from Gallery Place (Red/Yellow/Green Lines), Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange Lines), or Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
When to Go
The museum is open from 10:00 am-5:30 pm every day, with the last entrance at 5:00 pm, and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don't have much insight about the best times of day or week to go, but a Thursday afternoon had very manageable crowds, and we were all able to get close to the most popular exhibits without having to wait at all.
What's Around
The Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art are both on the same block as the Archives, and the National Mall is right across Constitution Avenue! The National Museum of American History is also along that street - it's a great area for sightseeing. The National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian are right across the Mall from the National Gallery of Art.
The International Spy Museum and the Crime Museum (both of which, unfortunately, charge admission fees) are a few blocks up 7th Street (toward the Gallery Place metro).
If you're hungry, two of my favorite frozen yogurt places are nearby: Tangysweet, home to traditional yogurt and smoothies, and FroZenYo, which is a self-serve place that has what is essentially healthier ice cream. Both are delicious and delightful. If you want cupcakes, Red Velvet Cupcakery is right next to Tangysweet, and always smells delicious, and if you want real food, Hill Country Barbecue and Jaleo are both well-known restaurants. Shake Shack is also nearby!
The Crowd
The Archives seem to be a hotspot for tourists and school groups, as there were a lot of children and families there.
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