National Archives Museum
Downtown / Penn Quarter—sample rating
AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About National Archives Museum
The National Archives Museum, in the National Archives Building on Constitution Avenue, houses the nation's most important founding documents—the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, displayed in a specially designed Rotunda. Beyond the Charters, the museum features rotating exhibitions on American history drawn from the National Archives' vast holdings, including the David M. Rubenstein Gallery's 'Records of Rights' and the newer immersive permanent exhibit 'The American Story.' Admission is always free, and while tickets are not required, visitors are encouraged to reserve a free general admission ticket or a $1 timed-entry ticket online to reduce wait times, especially during the busy spring and summer months.
Why visit
It's the only place to see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Best time to visit
Reserve a free or $1 timed-entry ticket online and visit early on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
Recommended duration
Allow about 1 hours (60 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 10:00-17:30
Free entry; $1 timed-entry tickets optional to skip lines; last admission 30 minutes before closing; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
701 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
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Stay near Downtown / Penn Quarter
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