SeeHistory museumEast End

National Archives

For history buffs, a visit is a must, as it has a display containing declassified top secret documents related to the Cold War. The original copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights are also on display, though the writing is so faded on the latter two that you will not be able to make it out. No photography of the documents is allowed.

Free entry
Wheelchair accessible

Address: 700 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Hours: Rotunda and exhibit hall, open daily except 25 December; day after Labor Day through March 14: 10AM-5:30PM, March 15 through Labor Day: 10AM-7PM; last admission 30 minutes before closing
Price: Free
Phone: (202) 357-5000
Website: archives.gov (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Washington, D.C./East End, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Location and details from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Also listed in Overture Maps open data.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

SeeArt gallery
National Gallery Of Art Sculpture Garden
700 Constitution Ave NW
SeePublic art
Past Sculpture
Past is a 1935 outdoor sculpture by Robert Ingersoll Aitken, located in front of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., in the United States. John Russell Pope served as the sculpture's architect and Edward H. Ratti served as its carver. The sculpture is made of Indiana limestone and measures approximately 20 x 8 x 12 feet, with a base approximately 12 x 12 x 15 feet.
SeePublic art
Heritage Sculpture
Heritage is an outdoor 1935 sculpture by American artist James Earle Fraser, installed in front of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., United States. Heritage is a companion piece to Guardianship. The National Archives Foundation's Heritage Award, which recognizes "individuals, corporations, and organizations whose deeds are consistent with the Foundation's mission of educating, enriching, and inspiring a deeper appreciation of our country's heritage", is named after the sculpture.
SeePublic art
Future Sculpture
Present, also known as Future, is a 1935 outdoor sculpture by Robert Ingersoll Aitken, located in front of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., in the United States. John Russell Pope served as the sculpture's architect and Edward H. Ratti served as its carver. The sculpture is made of Indiana limestone and measures approximately 20 x 8 x 12 feet, with a base approximately 12 x 12 x 15 feet.