Why Visit the National Archives?
We have historical documents that tell the stories of America’s history as a nation and as a people, available to you in 33 locations nationwide. These valuable records are evidence of our national experience. Each year, our staff serves our visitors billions of letters, photographs, video and audio recordings, drawings, maps, treaties, posters, and other items that we have preserved. The materials are not for loan to the public, as a library loans material; they are protected, but are available for you to use in-person at our facilities and affiliated archives. You can visit the National Archives, nationwide, to: • View exhibits of historical records and presidential papers: • The Public Vaults and the Charters of Freedom (the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights), located in Washington, D.C. • Exhibits about American Presidents (each one since Herbert Hoover) in our Presidential libraries. • Records of local importance to geographical regions of Ameri
