NATIONAL ARCHIVES

About NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Overview:The National Archives Museum depicts our astounding national mosaic and tells the stories of the American journey to young and old, scholars and students, cynics and dreamers. Home to the original Charters of Freedom, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, as well as the Public Vaults and O`Brien galleries, Boeing Learning Center, David M. Rubenstein Gallery, and William G. McGowan Theater, the National Archives Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting the nation`s capital. The museum is situated in the heart of the National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C., surrounded by dozens of memorials, museums and historic areas. The Washington Monument, White House and Capitol Building are just a few of the breathtaking structures that surround the museum. Reservations are not required for entrance to the National Archives Museum, and visitors may wait in the general public line any time the museum is open. However, advance reservations are highly recommended and will allow visitors to avoid the exterior portion of the line, especially during heavy tourist season, March through Labor Day. Reserved guided tours are available once daily, Monday through Friday starting at 9:45 a.m. Timed entries are also available seven days a week starting at 10:30 a.m. The last entry is 90 minutes before the museum closes. Click here for more information about the National Archives Museum. Video streaming by Ustream

How to Get There

The National Archives Museum is located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Access is available via Metrorail's Yellow or Green lines to the Archives/Navy Memorial station. No parking is available on-site. Limited metered parking is available on Constitution Avenue and in surrounding public parking garages. Docent tour reservation holders enter through the Special Events door at Constitution Avenue and 7th Street; Timed Entry reservation holders enter at 9th Street and Constitution Avenue.

Plan Your Visit to NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Heading to NATIONAL ARCHIVES? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)