Explore Exhibits

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Explore Exhibits Web Page … Explore exhibits that showcase the extraordinary holdings of the National Archives. Drawing from over two centuries of federal government records, the letters, memos, maps, drawings, photographs, films, and artifacts on display depict the history of our national life and demonstrate how records help us claim our rights and hold our elected officials accountable. Current Exhibits We recommend that you allow at least 90 minutes to visit the exhibit galleries. Exhibit Renovations …

Learn with Us

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Learn with Us Web Page … Upcoming Education Events The National Archives is proud to host many public programs, ranging from historical reenactors for young learners to book talks and panel discussions for kids of all ages. No events Explore Events Coming Soon in Summer 2025! The Discovery Center is currently closed to the public for renovations. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to the Center in the summer of 2025. During its renovation, our education staff will continue to facilitate on-site …

Discovering the Civil War

Online Exhibit
Discovering the Civil War Online Exhibit … View in the National Archives Catalog View in the National Archives Catalog For 150 years, researchers have been finding new insights in the records of the Civil War. They're not finished yet. You can join them in "Discovering the Civil War." "Discovering the Civil War" peels back 150 years of accumulated analysis, interpretation, and opinion to reveal a Civil War that is little-known and even more rarely displayed. The "Discovering the Civil War" exhibition …

Harvey Milk Writes to the President

Past Exhibit
Harvey Milk Writes to the President Past Exhibit … Human Rights at the Ballot Box In 1978, Californians voted on Proposition 6, which would have banned gay men and lesbians from teaching or otherwise being employed by California school districts. The initiative sponsored by State Senator John Briggs was opposed by a number of leading politicians, including former Governor Ronald Reagan and former President Gerald Ford. The Briggs Initiative was ultimately defeated at the polls in November 1978. Harvey …

Live from the Moon

Past Exhibit
Live from the Moon Past Exhibit … Watch telecast footage of the 1968 Apollo 8 Mission, the first manned spacecraft to reach the Moon and safely return. This multimedia presentation features photos of the Moon's surface taken from the spacecraft and an audio recording of the astronauts’ description of the lunar surface. Apollo 8: Live from the Moon - December 24, …

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: “Unbought and Unbossed”

Past Exhibit
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm Unbought and Unbossed Past Exhibit … "First black woman congressman" In 1969, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American woman to serve in Congress, or, as she preferred, the "first black woman congressman." She was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 and the Congressional Women's Caucus in 1977. Chisholm was also the first woman and the first African American to seek the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1972. During her seven …

Tours & Group Visits

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Tours & Group Visits Web Page … Group Visits Reservations are recommended, but not required for groups visiting the National Archives. You may reserve up to six tickets per reservation. For larger groups, you may make more than one reservation for the same time and date, subject to ticket availability. Timed-entry tickets are available 90 days in advance. A nonrefundable $1.00 advance reservation convenience fee will be charged for each advanced ticket. Time and date changes are allowed on a ticket order …

Field Trips

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Field Trips Web Page … Inspire students with civics knowledge through discovery of America’s founding documents— and reflection on their role in young people’s lives today—with a class visit to the National Archives! During our free field trips, educators and students embark on an interactive gallery experience and engage in lively discussions about what the records reveal about the people and events that shaped who we are today. There are a limited number of field trips available each day. The maximum …