National Archives Museum
National Archives Building
The national archives, where you can see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
Built in 1935 in a neoclassical style, the Rotunda displays the three original Charters of Freedom in argon-filled cases under low light, and flash photography is prohibited. The public galleries also hold documents such as a 1297 edition of the Magna Carta. Admission is free. During peak season, you can reserve entry online to avoid lines, with a small fee; without a reservation, use the entrance on Constitution Avenue. It sits across the street from the National Gallery of Art.
Opening hours
10:00–17:30 (closed on Thanksgiving and December 25)
Nearby sights
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Gallery of Art
- Ford's Theatre
- National Air and Space Museum
- Freer Gallery of Art
- National Museum of American History
- International Spy Museum
- National Museum of Women in the Arts