National Archives Building facts for kids
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National Archives Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | Constitution Avenue between 7th Street and 9th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Built | 1933–1935 |
| Architect | John Russell Pope |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site (ID66000865) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001004 (NRHP listing) 100009816 (NHL designation) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | December 11, 2023 |
| Designated CP | October 15, 1966 |
The National Archives Building, also called Archives I, is the main office for the National Archives and Records Administration in the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall. This building keeps and protects important government documents.
The main entrance is on Constitution Avenue. Another entrance for researchers is on Pennsylvania Avenue. There is also a second, larger building called Archives II in College Park, Maryland.
In December 2023, the National Archives Building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Contents
What You Can See: Important Documents and Exhibits
The National Archives building holds the original copies of three very important documents for the United States. These are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. You can see these documents on display in a special room called the Rotunda. This area is known as the Charters of Freedom.
The building also has other important American historical items. These include the Articles of Confederation and the Louisiana Purchase Treaty. You can also see the Emancipation Proclamation. There are collections of old photos and other important items from American and world history. One special item is an original version of the 1297 Magna Carta. This document was confirmed by Edward I of England.
When you visit the Rotunda, you can walk around to see each document. There are no lines for individual documents. If you are in the research rooms, you can take photos using natural light.
Building History: How the Archives Came to Be
Why an Archives Was Needed
Since the U.S. government started, it has created many documents. But for almost 150 years, there was no safe place to keep important historical records. Sometimes, officials worried about documents being lost. Sadly, fires often destroyed important papers. This showed how much a national archive was needed.
By the late 1800s, some architects drew plans for an archives building. In the early 1900s, people started working together to create the National Archives. Finally, in 1926, Congress approved the building's construction.
Designing the National Archives Building
In 1926, Congress decided to build the National Archives. This was part of a big plan to make downtown Washington, D.C., more beautiful. It also aimed to create office space for the growing government. This plan led to many buildings being designed in an area called the Federal Triangle.
Andrew W. Mellon, who was the Secretary of the Treasury, chose a group of architects to design these buildings. An architect named Louis A. Simon made an early design for the Archives. It was planned for Pennsylvania Avenue.
In 1929, models of the new buildings were shown to the public. The Commission of Fine Arts did not like Simon's design for the Archives. They suggested that a famous architect, John Russell Pope, should design it instead. Pope joined the team when a spot opened up.
Pope had a new idea for the Archives building. He thought it should be on a different block, between Seventh and Eighth Streets. He believed this spot needed a grand building like the National Archives. Pope designed the building to look like a classical temple. This style fit an institution dedicated to American history. The land for the building was already home to a large market called Center Market. This market building was taken down to make space for the Archives.
Starting Construction: Challenges and Materials
Ground was broken for the National Archives on September 5, 1931. This means construction officially began. President Herbert Hoover laid the cornerstone in February 1933. By then, some big problems had come up.
The huge building was going to be built over an underground stream called the Tiber Creek. To make the ground stable, 8,575 long poles were driven into the soft soil. Then, a giant concrete base was poured. Another challenge was choosing building materials. Both limestone and granite were allowed. But the construction happened during the Great Depression, so companies selling each stone tried hard to get the government to use their material. In the end, limestone was used for the outside walls. Granite was used for the base of the building. The limestone came from Indiana.
Building the Archives: A Big Project
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Building the National Archives was a huge job. It was the most detailed building in the Federal Triangle area. It needed special air systems and filters to protect the documents. The floors had to be extra strong. Thousands of feet of shelving were needed to store records. The outside of the building took over four years to finish. Many different workers were involved, from sculptors to steel workers.
Finishing the Building and Expanding Space
In November 1935, 120 staff members moved into the building. The outside was mostly done, but many storage areas still had no shelves. Work continued on the Rotunda and other public spaces. Soon, it became clear that the building would not have enough storage space. A project began to fill the inner courtyard of the Archives. This doubled the storage space.
John Russell Pope wanted the Archives to be a "temple of history." This idea has been kept alive through regular care and repairs. Over the years, more and more records filled the building. Even with the courtyard expansion, space became tight. By the late 1960s, the building was full. The agency started renting other places for storage and offices. In 1993, a second National Archives building opened in College Park, Maryland. This new building added a lot more space. It became one of the most modern archives in the world.
Protecting the Documents: Re-encasement and Renovation
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights have been on display since 1952. That year, the documents were placed in special sealed cases filled with helium gas. Experts believed this would keep them safe for a very long time. Since then, experts have regularly checked the documents. Starting in 1987, they used a special electronic system from NASA to help with these checks.
In 1995, experts noticed changes in the glass cases of the Declaration and the Bill of Rights. Glass experts said the cases were wearing out. They suggested that the documents should be put into new cases within seven years. This was to make sure the documents stayed safe.
In July 2001, the important documents were taken off display. Experts carefully removed them from their old cases. They checked the condition of each document. Then, they took steps to preserve them. The documents were placed in new cases. They returned to public display in September 2003.
Key Dates for the National Archives Building
- Congress approved building it in 1926.
- Construction started on September 5, 1931.
- President Herbert Hoover laid the cornerstone in February 1933.
- The building first opened in 1935.
- It was fully completed in 1937.
- A big renovation was finished in late 2004.
- The public display area grew from 12,000 to over 19,000 square feet in 2013.
Other Important Events: The Warren Commission
The Warren Commission investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This group met for the first time on December 5, 1963. Their meeting was held in a hearing room on the second floor of the National Archives Building.
See also
- Architecture of Washington, D.C.
