National Archives Research Center — Local services in Washington

The wait to see some of America’s most important documents can be excruciatingly long, but once you stand next to these documents and think about their relevance to the Untied States, the wait becomes well worth it.

Although there are many great exhibits that will fill hours of time at the National Archives museum, the main attraction is the rotunda with the Declaration of Independence, Bill Of Rights, and the Constitution. You’ll wait quite some time on a busy day and there’s a good chance the line will snake around hallways and down flights of stairs. Don’t get discouraged because of the lines, you’ll regret that you missed it. Once inside you’ll get to stand next to the encased documents and get to look upon these important pieces of history. It’s shocking to see how faded the Declaration of Independence is and to hear that it’s because it was just left pasted on a wall near an open window for decades.

To stand right next to the documents written hundreds of years ago that have determined and helped govern our freedoms, is something everyone should try to do.

In addition to the main attraction, there are great exhibits in the archives. Some showing civil rights, others showing how the archives have operated through the years. Each exhibit is well designed, informative, and worth the time.

A large gift shop offers all the keychains, magnets, shirts, and other items your family may want.

Overall the National Archives Museum is a great experience the entire...

The Pre-ample, The decloration of independence, The bill of rights, and the constitution of the United States of America have no meaning stored away in the National Archives, especially when they are not enforced by the Three branches of the federal government of the United States of America, the three branches where designed to ensure that the powers given to the federal government would be preserved, upheld, and defended of the people, by the people, and for the people of the United States of America, that is the central power of the 3 parties l, and the sworn oath or affirmation of every sworn official whom is elected, serve as a lawyer, officer, court judge, congressmen, senator, and every president and vice presidents duty is to faithfully executed thier office by honoring thier oaths to we the people E Pluribus Unum which I now come to defend the constitution of the United States of America and the people at large who have no voice because the government has failed to honor...

Love history! Great place. The "rotunda" portion where the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are located gets quite crowded and a large line forms. Worth the wait for a lover of American history though!

I am leaving one star off due to one of the security personal at the entrance where bags are checked being a really complete and total you-know-what-hole. EXTREMELY rude, abrasive, and condescending. Admonished my fiance and I for not using the "same bucket" when putting stuff to go through the medal detector and basically yelled in our face about it. When ironically we were using the same bucket to begin with but changed when he started to yell. I get that he does that job everyday and knows exactly the correct way to do it, but us tourists are no experts. Completely disrespectful. You can do your job without coming off like such a miserable person. This man truly does not deserve to have a job at a national treasure as...