Holding such priceless possessions as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the imposing columned edifice of the National Archives on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street is, along with the Library of Congress, the nation's most revered research facility. Inaugurated in 1935, it stores the records of the U.S. Congress and federal courts, military files predating World War II, records relating to Native Americans, the Great Depression and the New Deal. Since its opening in 1993, Archives II has stored the files on matters such as foreign relations, commerce, fiscal policy, aerial photography, motion pictures and electronic data. Also on the shelves are documents relating to World War II and the White House . Visitors can enter both sites easily, though it is a good idea to call ahead to confirm the hours of business, which sometimes change, often extending beyond the routine 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doing research is possible with the minimum of identification, and copying documents is as cheap as in public libraries.
Genealogical research is the most popular subject.
Unfortunately, kids under 10 are unlikely to appreciate the importance of the documents displayed there. Surrounding the rotunda are various exhibition halls, where artifacts from the Archives' bottomless collection of government information are rotated in thematic or historical collections. A facility in College Park, opened in 1993 and accessible from the main archives building by van, accommodates the overflow, plus many non-paper forms of documentation. However, you'll need to sign up several weeks in advance. While it is visitable and interesting, it lacks the majesty and heroic clout of the main building downtown.