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 …

Tours & Group Visits

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Tours & Group Visits Web Page … Guided Tours The National Archives is the home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other historically important records of the United States. You can enhance your visit to the Archives with a free tour led by our friendly, knowledgeable staff. Highlights of the Collection Get ready to dive into some of the most fascinating pieces in our collection where you will learn more about the  Magna Carta ,  Declaration of Independence ,  Constitution …

Explore Exhibits

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Explore Exhibits Explore Exhibits drupal Mon 04/15/2024 … 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 …

50th Anniversary of Apollo XI Moon Landing

Past Exhibit
50th Anniversary of Apollo XI Moon Landing Past Exhibit … On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong made one small step that forever changed history. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo XI moon landing, view National Archives records that detail the carefully choreographed sequence of steps—from lift-off to splash-down—that resulted in the mission’s “giant leap for mankind." Apollo 11 Mission image - Astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin walks near the Lunar Module, July 20, 1969. National …

Records of Rights

Current Exhibit
Records of Rights Current Exhibit … Explore how generations of Americans sought to fulfill the promise of the founding documents. The David M. Rubenstein Gallery exhibition showcases original and facsimile National Archives documents and uses an innovative 17-foot-long touch-screen interactive table to illustrate how Americans have debated about and fought for rights like free speech, religion, and equality. The rights and freedoms embodied in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill …

Photography Policy

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Photography Policy Web Page … Can I take photographs and film in the National Archives? Yes! Non-flash photography, filming, and videotaping for personal use is encouraged in all public areas of the National Archives unless otherwise posted. Flash, other supplemental lighting, selfie sticks, monopods, or similar equipment are not permitted. We encourage you to share your photographs online and tag us @USNatArchives! Those wishing to film for news purposes must contact NARA’s Public Affairs Office in a …

Thanksgiving: Historical Perspectives

Past Exhibit
Thanksgiving Historical Perspectives Past Exhibit … A Harvest Celebration During the autumn of 1621, at least 90 Wampanoag joined 52 English people at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, to mark a successful harvest. It is remembered today as the “First Thanksgiving,” although no one back then used that term. In fact, much of the so-called First Thanksgiving story was created decades and centuries later. As a result, many assumptions about the festival at Plymouth and its connection to Thanksgiving …

All American: The Power of Sports

Past Exhibit
All American The Power of Sports Past Exhibit … All American: The Power of Sports The power of sports has many applications. Sports unite people, teach values, and inspire hope and pride. In the United States, sports have powered efforts to bring citizens together, shape them, and project a vision of what it means to be American. But sports convey power to athletes too—power to break social barriers and protest injustice. All American explores the power of sports both to embody our national ideals and …

Vicecapades: 150th Anniversary of the 1873 Comstock Act

Past Exhibit
Vicecapades 150th Anniversary of the 1873 Comstock Act Past Exhibit … An Act for the Suppression of, trade in, and circulation of obscene literature and articles of immoral use known as the Comstock Act Anthony Comstock (1844–1915), a self-appointed guardian of public morality, successfully lobbied Congress for stricter obscenity laws and secured an appointment as a special agent to the United States Postal Service with broad powers to police the mails. The law did not define obscenity—Comstock did. In …

Celebrating Anna May Wong

Past Exhibit
Celebrating Anna May Wong Past Exhibit … “I want to be an actress, not a freak.” Anna May Wong Film legend Anna May Wong’s talent could not be contained by the racist casting of early Hollywood movies. Born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles in 1905, Wong ditched school to sneak onto film sets. She appeared in her first film at age 14 and quickly became a star. Although frustrated by the Asian stereotypes she was forced to play, she appeared in over 60 films and became the first Chinese American international …