National Archives Building

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National Archives Building

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National Archives Building
The National Archives building Constitution Avenue façade
National Archives Building is located in Washington, D.C.
Location: Constitution Avenue between 7th Street and 9th Street, NW
Nearest city: Washington, D.C.
Coordinates: 38°53′34.01″N 77°01′22.71″W / 38.8927806°N 77.022975°W / 38.8927806; -77.022975Coordinates: 38°53′34.01″N 77°01′22.71″W / 38.8927806°N 77.022975°W / 38.8927806; -77.022975
Built: 1935
Architect: John Russell Pope
Architectural style: Classical Revival
Part of: Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site (#66000865[1])
NRHP Reference#: 71001004[1]
Added to NRHP: May 27, 1971

The National Archives Building, known informally as Archives I, is the original headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration. It is located north of the National Mall at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C.. The Rotunda entrance is on Constitution Avenue, while the research entrance is on Pennsylvania Avenue.[2]

Contents

Exhibits

It holds the original copies of the three main formative documents of the United States and its government: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It also hosts a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I. These are displayed to the public in the main chamber of the National Archives, which is called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. The National Archives Building also exhibits other important American historical documents such as the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Emancipation Proclamation, and collections of photography and other historically and culturally significant American artifacts.

Once inside the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, there are no lines to see the individual documents and visitors are allowed to walk from document to document as they wish. For over 30 years, the National Archives have forbidden flash photography, but the advent of digital cameras with automatic flashes have made the rules increasingly difficult to enforce. As a result, all filming, photographing, and videotaping by the public in the exhibition areas has been prohibited.

History

  • Congress authorized construction in 1926.
  • Ground was broken on September 9, 1931.
  • President Herbert Hoover laid the cornerstone in February 1933.[3]
  • Completed in 1935.

A renovation was completed in late 2004.[4] [5]

References

External links


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