What is held at the National Archives?

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The National Archives is the U.S. Government's collection of documents that records important events in American history. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the Government agency that preserves and maintains these materials and makes them available for research.



Similarly, it is asked, what documents are held in the National Archives?

National Archives Museum. Declaration of Independence. Constitution of the United States. Bill of Rights.

Additionally, what is housed at the National Archives? You can visit the National Archives, nationwide, to: View exhibits of historical records and presidential papers: The Public Vaults and the Charters of Freedom (the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights), located in Washington, D.C.

Also asked, where are the National Archives kept?

The National Archives is based in Kew in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south-west London. The building was opened in 1977 as an additional home for the public records, which were held in a building on Chancery Lane.

What is the purpose of archives?

An archive is an accumulation of historical records or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of that person or organization.

32 Related Question Answers Found

Can you take pictures in the National Archives?

The National Archives must balance keeping documents available for visitors to view with our need to preserve them for future generations. For this reason, photography is prohibited in all exhibition areas in the National Archives Museum, including in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.

How much does it cost to visit the National Archives?

Entry to the National Archives is free. However, a non-refundable $1.00 advance reservation fee applies to each timed entry reservation. Changes are allowed on a ticket order at no additional charge.

Can you go into the National Archives?

Open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is always free. Reservations are not required. The General Public Entrance is near the corner of Constitution Avenue and 9th Street, to the left of the stairs.

What is on display at the National Archives?

The Rotunda of the National Archives Building displays the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.

What is considered a government source?


Government documents and government websites are generally considered authoritative, credible sources of information. Many are scholarly, and some are even peer-reviewed! But, not all gov docs are scholarly or peer-reviewed. Government agencies produce a wide range of publications, for different purposes.

Are the National Archives free?

What and where is the National Archives Building & Museum? The museum is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Its hours are 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. Admission is always free.

What are the four founding documents?

Along these lines, therefore, a list of "the Four Major Founding Documents" that could be studied in class might be: 1) the Declaration of Independence, 2) the Constitution, 3) the Bill of Rights, and 4) the Federalist/Anti-Federalist Papers.

How many national archives are there?

From one building on Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Archives now has over 40 facilities nationwide including field archives, Federal Records Centers, Presidential Libraries, the Federal Register, and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

How do you use the National Archives?

How to use archives
  1. Look on the archive's website to see if they provide research guidance and to find out how the archive is arranged.
  2. If the archive has an online catalogue, take some time to find out how to use it.
  3. Do some research before you come.
  4. Check different archives and organisations for relevant documents.

How do I get documents from the National Archives?


Order documents while you're here
Once you have a reader's ticket, you can also order original documents on site from any computer terminal in the reading rooms. Most on site orders take 45 minutes to arrive. If you need to return on another day, use an on site computer terminal to reserve documents for up to a week.

Can I visit the National Archives?

Guided Tours
Once a day, Monday through Friday, at 9:45 a.m. we offer a one-hour docent-led guided tour of the National Archives Museum. The service charge for online reservations is $1.00 per person; admission to all of the National Archives Museum exhibits is free.

What is an archival source?

Archival sources can be manuscripts, documents, records (including electronic records), objects, sound and audiovisual materials, or other materials. What is an archives? An archives is "an organization that collects the records of individuals, families, or other organizations."

How long does it take to see the National Archives?

Visit the Archives if you have more than 30 minutes:
If you're not in a rush, we recommend 90 minutes to visit the Archives. You can explore the rest of the Rubenstein Gallery to learn about the Record of Rights, the Public Vaults, the rotating exhibits and you can spend more time reading about the Charters of Freedom.

How much does it cost to see the Declaration of Independence?

There is no charge to visit the National Archives Museum. There is a charge of $1.50 per ticket if you decide to reserve your tickets in advance.

Why is the National Archives important?

The National Archives holds historical documents of the U.S. Government (federal, congressional, and presidential records) on behalf of the American public so that citizens, public servants, Congress, and the Courts can obtain the information they need to exercise their rights and responsibilities.

Where can I view the original Declaration of Independence?

Located on the upper level of the National Archives museum, the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.