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 …

Roots of Rebellion

Virtual Exhibit
Roots of Rebellion Virtual Exhibit … The origins of the American Revolution can be traced to another conflict—the Seven Years' War. Colonial resistance emerged in response to new imperial policies related to western lands and eastern taxes (and trade) as Parliament grappled to administer its vastly expanded empire. This exploration of the roots of colonial rebellion also reveals that Native Americans' battle to maintain independence was already underway. …

Mr. Santa Claus: Romance of the Postal Service

Past Exhibit
Mr Santa Claus Romance of the Postal Service Past Exhibit … This holiday featured film is one of a series of silent movies produced by the Post Office Department in 1921. The mini melodrama shows how the postal service helps make a happy Christmas for a boy and his sister when their “Dere Sandy Claws” letter is answered by a young married couple. Mr. Santa Clause, 1921. Records of the Post Office Department. NAID: …

Bring Them Home, Uncle Sam

Past Exhibit
Bring Them Home Uncle Sam Ongoing Exhibit … Soldiers arrive home aboard the S.S. Haverford as the transport ship pulls into Philadelphia, 1918. Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs More than two million American service members were overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces when the guns fell silent on November 11, 1918, ending World War I. Americans would continue to serve in Germany as part of the Allied Occupation until 1923, but many were quickly demobilized. The service …

The Magna Carta & Records of Rights

Current Exhibit
The Magna Carta & Records of Rights Current Exhibit … Explore how generations of Americans sought to fulfill the promise of the founding documents. Begin your exploration of "Records of Rights" by viewing an original  1297 Magna Carta , on display courtesy of David M. Rubenstein. The David M. Rubenstein Gallery exhibition showcases original and facsimile National Archives documents. Interact with an innovative 17-foot-long touchscreen interactive table, illustrating how Americans have debated about and …

Plan Your Visit

Web Page
Plan Your Visit Web Page … Located in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, the Founding Documents - known as the Charters of Freedom - establish the principles of the United States and have inspired the American people to pursue a more perfect union for almost 250 years. Hours The exhibits are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Last admissions are 30 minutes prior to closing. We are open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. About Your Visit To enjoy the all-new personalized experience …