national archives museum tour

National Archives + National Portrait Gallery - Exclusive Tour

• Guided Walking Tour & Museum Tour
• Tour Guide Exclusively For You (Does NOT apply if you choose "SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE" option)
• Duration 5.5 Hours (Including Lunch Break)
• Private Transportation Included Between Tour Locations If Necessary
• Tour Will Run, Rain Or Shine
• Skip The Line Entry to National Archives
• Entry/Admission - National Portrait Gallery
• Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
• Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
• National Archives Museum, 701 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20408, USA Meet your guide on the corner of 9th Street NW and Constitution Ave.
• National Portrait Gallery, 8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
• Notes: National Archives and other attractions or museums may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• National Portrait Gallery

Similar experiences

• You'll start at National Archives Museum 701 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20408, USA Meet your guide on the corner of 9th Street NW and Constitution Ave. See address & details
• 1 National Portrait Gallery Stop: 2 hours - Admission included See details
• 2 The National Archives Museum Stop: 2 hours See details
• You'll end at National Portrait Gallery 8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA See address & details

• smuhlhauser 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour! Ryan was an excellent guide. Extremely knowledgeable and made our visit to the archives a memorable and wonderful experience Read more Written April 16, 2024
• 379osvaldos 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Stephen did an excellent job. He is extremely knowledgeable and provided an in-depth explanation of a diversity of art pieces. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• FresnoFamily2015 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience at Natural History Museum - AMAZING Tour Guide Rebecca (our guide) was OUTSTANDING! From beginning to end, she kept two 10-yr old young ladies mesmerized. She let them direct what they wanted to see, provided terrific information, somehow managing to cover much of the entire Natural History Museum in 2 hrs. She’s a natural born Pied Piper and we would recommend her to EVERYONE - but especially families w young kids. Couldn’t be happier. The price of the tour (which was not cheap) was worth every penny. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• X5401LOdavidv 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth it Amazing information and hit all of the highlights of the museum. Tour guide was very friendly and had additional material to add value to the tour. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• sfminhas123 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful tour! This tour was absolutely fantastic and I learned so much throughout our tour. We ended up having only my dad and I on this tour. We learned a lot about arlington cemetery and it was even personalized for us depending on what we wanted to see there. Highly recommend! Read more Written April 14, 2024
• EricSChamp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private Air & Space Museum Tour Great tour! So much more information than we would have gotten on our own! Our guide Brenda really geared our tour to them. It was wonderful! Thanks!! Read more Written April 14, 2024
• YiC58 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great guide Maureen, highlight of the day! Great tour with Maureen, she is so knowledgeable and walked us through many interesting aspects of air and space. The highlight of the day! Read more Written April 14, 2024
• christianmZ8161SM 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour of the National Archives Excellent tour! Maribeth shared her intimate knowledge of history starting with the Magna Carta and built the tour around it. Loved getting up close to the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights coupled with snippets of history to tie it all together! Thank you! Read more Written April 14, 2024
• Darcygamble 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Hung on every word! Brenda was an amazing tour guide full of knowledge. My teenage daughter and I hung on her every word and the time flew. I felt so much more knowledgable after the tour. It was fun, fast and well worth the time and money. Read more Written April 12, 2024
• susiesW7275WQ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles National Archives Brenda was awesome! So knowledgeable and engaging! Her great story telling saved us from a lot of museum reading at the end of our trip when we were tired! Read more Written April 12, 2024
• Quebbeman 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Our guide Annemarie was very friendly and shared a wealth of knowledge during our tour. The highlight for our grandson was the observance of the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Solider. Read more Written April 11, 2024
• annaeI8045EO 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles All the info and kept my 7yo engaged !! My 7 yo son and I had a wonderful time on this tour. It was the right amount of time and information to keep him engaged. Kate was a good sport and let him ask all the questions he wanted in the hall of fossils! Read more Written April 9, 2024
• 771annettef 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Afternoon Learning History The tour was great! Maribeth was a great tour guide! She personalized the tour! . She was knowledgeable and so friendly. Read more Written April 9, 2024
• 818victoriat 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Lots of cool things to see Very col museum, but be aware that parts are closed during remodeling. Still a lot to see and take in. Wright brothers section was very interesting, and my daughter had just completed her Wright Flight program at school and did her flight day, so she was very excited to see all the things they'd just learned about through the year. Read more Written April 9, 2024
• ChrisCDC 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles A bit disappointing Was not aware of how limited the exhibits would be due to the ongoing works at the Smithsonian. It did not make the journey into Washington worthwhile and wish we had known about the site at Dulles International. By the looks of it that would have scored a 5/5! Read more Written April 8, 2024

More to explore in Washington DC

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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National Archives + National Portrait Gallery - Exclusive Tour provided by Babylon Tours Washington D.C.

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Group Tours

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is home to many of our government’s most cherished records including the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Exploring two interactive permanent exhibitions spaces, a rotating gallery, learning center, and a state-of-the-art theater, visitors are treated to an incredible sampling of paper and parchment records, maps, photographs, patent drawings, films, sound recordings, and artifacts from the billions of records safeguarded by the National Archives.

The National Archives Foundation is happy to offer a variety of options for exploring the Museum. From special entry for smaller groups to customizable private tours and events, our membership packages are the perfect way to create a truly memorable experience.

For more information, contact:

Tours Ken Dunn [email protected] 202.357.5264

Special Events Caneil McDonald Caneil.McDonald@ archivesfoundation.org 202.357.7746

• Featured Document
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• Emancipation Proclamation & General Order No. 3
• Getting to the National Archives in Washington, DC

National Archives Foundation 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20408-0001 202-357-5946

• Archives.gov

© 2024 National Archives Foundation

National Archives

We're open daily from 10:00am-5:30pm , with last admission 30 minutes prior to closing.

The National Archives Museum is home to the Charters of Freedom, including the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The museum is situated in the heart of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., surrounded by dozens of memorials, museums and historic areas. Visit our website for more information about the National Archives Museum .

Current Hours

Daily: 10am-5:30pm

Closed: Thanksgiving Day and December 25.

Want to skip the public line? Timed entry tickets are available for entry times from 10:15am to 4:30pm . 

What is Currently on Display

The Rotunda and following galleries of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, are open for viewing of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights ; The Public Vaults; the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery, featuring All American: The Power of Sports ; and the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, featuring Records of Rights . 

Museum Store

A selection of retail items are available for purchase upon exiting the Museum. Retail items may also be purchased by visiting the National Archives Store .

Museum Cafe

The Charters Cafe is open Monday-Friday, between 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Need to Know

Visitors agree to abide by the guidelines on the National Archives Museum's website and by all instructions posted in the museum or provided by staff during the visit. 

• Bags and backpacks . Only one bag is allowed per person; bags cannot be larger than 17 × 26 inches (43 × 66 centimeters) in size. 
• Food, chewing gum, and beverages are prohibited in the theater and exhibition areas.
• Pets and therapy animals are prohibited in the Museum. Service animals are allowed and must be under the control of their handlers at all times. 

Non-flash photography is encouraged in all public areas of the National Archives Museum 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.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To use them during your visit, please notify Security staff upon arrival after going through the metal detector.

Booking Windows

Tickets are primarily released 90 days in advance at 10AM EST.

Changes and Cancellations

Purchasing Tickets

Entry to the National Archives is free. If you choose to reserve a self-guided timed ticket, a non-refundable $1.00 advance reservation convenience fee will be charged for each ticket. Changes are allowed on a ticket order at no additional charge. If you cancel, reservation fees are non-refundable. 

• Self-Guided timed ticket entry reservations are available for those who wish to avoid the public line. 
• Guided Tours are not currently available. 
• Education and school groups should visit the Museum Education website for the latest information regarding tours and classroom programs.

Personal and other information collected through recreation.gov will be shared with NARA's support partner, the National Archives Foundation, in order to conduct outreach and enhance the visitor experience. If you do not want your personal and other information shared with the Foundation, please email [email protected] .  

Cancellations

There are NO REFUNDS on any ticket orders. When the Archives is unexpectedly closed due to special events, national security concerns, or for other reasons, it will NOT be able to refund any money. In the event of a cancellation, attempts will be made to inform you of the closure and re-book your tickets to another date, or visitors may choose to modify their reservation on their own before the scheduled time, provided tickets are available at the new date and time.

Ticketed Entry Procedures

Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before the scheduled time on your ticket. While we will do our best to honor the scheduled time on your ticket, entry to the National Archives museum will be subject to building capacity. Late arrivals cannot be guaranteed entry into the museum.

• Once inside, National Archives Security will verify your Timed Entry Tickets. 
• Please have your ticket(s) or confirmation email available (on your phone or printed) for entry. 

All visitors will pass through airport-type security and metal detectors. Visitors, as well as their belongings, are subject to inspection. There are no lockers or coat check stations available. 

Contact Information

Mailing address.

700 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW Washington DC 20408

Phone Number

EMAIL: [email protected]

Available Tours and Tickets

• Self-Guided Timed Entry

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National Archives in Washington, DC

Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, "National Archives Experience" - The Rotunda, The Public Vaults, The William McGowan Theater, The Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery Visit the National Archives Museum

Get Directions · Visit Website

Atlanta Federal Records Center

Available services: Records Center, Records Management

National Archives at Atlanta, GA

Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room

Boston Federal Records Center

National archives at boston, ma.

Available services: Reference Room, Research Room

Chicago Federal Records Center

National archives at chicago, il, national archives at college park, md, dayton federal records center, denver federal records center, national archives at denver, co, fort worth federal records center, national archives at fort worth, tx, kansas city federal records center, national archives at kansas city, mo, kingsridge federal records center.

Available services: Records Center

Lee's Summit Federal Records Center

Lenexa federal records center, national archives at new york city, ny.

Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Learning Center

Philadelphia Federal Records Center

National archives at philadelphia, pa, pittsfield federal records center, riverside federal records center, national archives at riverside, ca, san bruno federal records center, national archives at san francisco, ca, seattle federal records center, national archives at seattle, wa, national archives at st. louis, mo, national personnel records center (military).

Available services: Records Center, National Personnel Records Center

National Personnel Records Center (Civilian)

Washington national records center.

Available services: Archival Research Room, Records Center

Office of the Federal Register

Available services: Review Public Inspection Documents

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

Available services: Presidential Library and Museum

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Harry s. truman presidential library and museum, dwight d. eisenhower presidential library and museum, john f. kennedy presidential library and museum, lyndon baines johnson presidential library and museum, richard nixon presidential library and museum, gerald r. ford presidential library, gerald r. ford presidential museum, jimmy carter presidential library and museum, ronald reagan presidential library and museum, george bush presidential library and museum, william j. clinton presidential library and museum, george w. bush presidential library.

Available services: Presidential Library

Barack Obama Presidential Library

Not Open to the Public · Visit Website

Donald J. Trump Presidential Library

Visit Website

Accessibility 

All National Archives museums, research facilities, Presidential Libraries, and websites are accessible. Review the available services.

Why Visit the National Archives?

Not sure if you need to plan a trip? Discover who uses the Archives and what you can expect to find.

Plan Your Research Visit

Learn everything you need to know in order to get the most out of your in-person research at the Archives.

Operating Status

Check our  Facebook pages and Twitter or call 301-837-0700 in the DC area. Nationwide Federal government operating status updates are available on the OPM website .

Contact us with questions or comments .

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National archives private museum tour.

Duration: Up to 4-hours Start Time: Flexible - Museum hours are 10:00am to 5:30pm Meeting Location: Flexible Activity Level: Easy Experience: See the original documents that formed the United States of America when you step inside the majestic National Archives Rotunda with your private tour guide. Home to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the National Archives Museum also has five exhibition galleries and family-friendly activities including the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, Records of Rights featuring a 1297 Magna Carta, Public Vaults featuring Abraham Lincoln's telegrams and more! Program Includes: - Experience the city and receive local tips from your savvy local guide - Private Tour of The National Archives - Guide's gratuity is not included - 24-hour support phone number Additional Information: - The starting time and date of the tour is customizable to fit your schedule. - We recommend a morning start time to beat the crowds. Museum hours are 10:00am to 5:30pm. - This tour is offered year-round 7 days per week (with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas). - Restrictions may apply depending on the date and time of the tour. - The starting location of the tour is customizable to fit your schedule. - The tour can start at your hotel doorstep, at a restaurant where you just finished breakfast or lunch, or custom location of your liking. - Pick up or drop off locations outside of DC Metropolitan area may accrue additional time cost. Tour Itinerary: - Up to 4-hours with a private tour guide. - Our guide will meet the guests at the requested starting point and will provide an overview of the National Archives before entering the Rotunda and guiding the guests though the various exhibits. Based on the amount of time guests want to spend inside the National Archives, there may be time to see other highlights outside of the National Archives Museum with our tour guide. - Gratuity for the tour guide is not included. - We can customize the tour and stops to fit your needs upon request.

- All stops, timing and inclusions of the tour are dependent upon traffic and weather conditions. - Gratuity for the tour guide is not included.

Beyond Times Square

300 park ave. 2nd floor new york , ny 10022 united states, (212) 564-1001, [email protected].

The National Archives Museum depicts our astounding national mosaic and tells the stories of the American journey.

Founding documents in the rotunda for the charters of freedom.

Encounter the original founding documents of the United States in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom , the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence , Constitution of the United States , and Bill of Rights . These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, are instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

Declaration of Independence with John Hancock's signature

Declaration of Independence showing handprint in lower left corner

Declaration of Independence learn more  |  transcript

Back of the Declaration of Independence

learn more | transcript  | en español

Constitution of the United States

Page 1 of the Constitution in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

Detail of page 1 of the Constitution in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

Page 4 of the Constitution of the United States in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

Constitution of the United States in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

Page 1 of the Constitution of the United States learn more  |  transcript

Page 2 of the Constitution of the United States learn more  |  transcript

Page 3 of the Constitution of the United States learn more  |  transcript

Page 4 of the Constitution of the United States learn more  |  transcript

learn more | transcript  |  en español

Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights in its encasement in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

John Adams' signature on the Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights learn more  |  transcript

Faulkner Murals

Faulkner Mural showing the presentation of the Declaration of Independence

Cloud Detail of the Faulkner Mural showing the presentation of the Declaration of Independence

Key to the Faulkner Mural showing the presentation of the Declaration of Independence

Faulkner Mural showing the presentation of the Constitution

Key to the Faulkner Mural showing the presentation of the Constitution

Rotunda FAQs

Why is the declaration so faded.

This parchment has been proudly displayed over many decades, including 35 years of exposure to sunlight opposite a window in the Patent Office Building. Today, it is sealed in the most scientifically advanced housing that preservation technology can provide.

Why is it so cold and dark in the Rotunda?

Cooler temperatures prolong the life of documents. Light fades ink and destroys parchment and paper, so light levels in the Rotunda are deliberately kept low.

Is photography allowed?

Non-flash photography is encouraged in all public areas of the National Archives Museum unless otherwise posted.