Can i visit the national archives

Rubenstein Gallery is home to Records of Rights , which features numerous Archives documents and a foot touch screen to summarize American debate around essential issues such as citizenship, voting rights, equal opportunity, free speech and more. The highlight of the gallery is one of four surviving originals of the Magna Carta. At any given time, more than 1, documents are on display, indicating the incredible breadth of American democracy. Each vault is themed based on words from the Preamble to the U.

Constitution, which is only fitting. Beyond its myriad exhibits and historical documents, the National Archives Museum also features the William G. McGowan Theater , a seat venue that often hosts documentary films and forum discussions. You can also educate and entertain the next generation in the Boeing Learning Center , which offers hands-on activities relating to Archive materials.

See our opening times. If you do not have your document references to hand, you can still complete Steps to secure your date of visit, then return at a later stage to complete Steps You can return to Steps up to 5 working days before your visit date. During your visit, you will be able to order additional documents to view an additional three documents at a time.

Use Discovery , our catalogue, to gather your document references. New slots for booking are made available every day. You no longer need to book a visit to use our reading rooms, but we strongly encourage it to ensure that you have a seat. Each booking is for one person only on a first-come, first-served basis — you will not be able to bring anyone with you, unless they book a visit themselves or have a duty of care.

There is a reasonable limit of 36 bookings in 12 weeks. If a visitor reports that she or he was diagnosed with COVID after visiting the National Archives Museum near your visit, the National Archives will use your contact information to notify you. If you do not want your name or email address used for these purposes, please email us at visitorservices nara.

The National Archives will not use your email address for any other purpose without your express permission. Entry to the National Archives is free. Changes are allowed on a ticket order at no additional charge. If you cancel, reservation fees are non-refundable. To assist in Social Distancing while inside the museum, the maximum number of Timed Entry Tickets an individual may reserve is limited to six tickets.

Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before the scheduled time on your ticket. While we will do our best to honor the scheduled time on your ticket, entry to the National Archives museum will be subject to building capacity.

Late arrivals cannot be guaranteed entry into the museum. Visitors will pass through airport-type security and metal detectors. Visitors, as well as their belongings, are subject to inspection. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To use them during your visit, please notify Security staff upon arrival after going through the metal detector. Wipes will be available for you to clean the surfaces before use. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations.

Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation. National Archives Welcome back! Current Hours Daily: 10ampm Timed entry tickets are available. For more information on the building status, visit archives. Reserve Tickets.

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. Want to be the first to know about our fun facts and get them straight to your inbox? Join our newsletter today! 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.