Constitution Week 2026: George Washington's Annotated Copy of a Draft of the U.S. Constitution
See drafts of the U.S. Constitution annotated by George Washington, on display in celebration of Constitution Week at the National Archives Museum.
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia and redesigned the government. George Washington, a delegate from Virginia, served as the President of the Constitutional Convention. The pages on display at the National Archives Museum from September 14 through September 27 are Washington’s own handwritten notes on an early draft of the Constitution.
The Constitution housed in the Rotunda of the National Archives is the final version of multiple drafts, and was signed on September 17, 1787.
Before the original, parchment version of the U.S. Constitution seen on display in the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, printers were sworn to secrecy and produced drafts of the Constitution for use by the Convention's delegates.
This secret printing offers visitors a firsthand viewing of the U.S. Constitution, revised in Washington’s original handwriting–two years before being unanimously elected as the first President of the United States.
To get tickets to the National Archives Museum to see this and all of the exhibits currently on display, visit our tickets page.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.
This is the Committee of Detail's draft of the U.S. Constitution that George Washington annotated with his comments.