For those who have been to the National Archives in Washington, DC...

Longacre · November 28, 2006 1:22AM

I was in DC over the weekend, and went to one of the Smithsonian Museums (the Natural History one). I also drove by the National Archives building. The building looked pretty impressive, but I did not have a chance to go in. For those who have been there, is it open to the public or do you need an appointment? Also, it is museum-like, in that does it have displays, or are there just row upon row of books and research material, with a librarian with a beehive hairdoo shushing you all the time? What is it like? If it is a "must see", I will try to get there the next time I visit DC (which is several times a year).

bidask · November 28, 2006 1:24AM

<< <i>I was in DC over the weekend, and went to one of the Smithsonian Museums (the Natural History one). I also drove by the National Archives building. The building looked pretty impressive, but I did not have a chance to go in. For those who have been there, is it open to the public or do you need an appointment? Also, it is museum-like, in that does it have displays, or are there just row upon row of books and research material, with a librarian with a beehive hairdoo shushing you all the time? What is it like? If it is a "must see", I will try to get there the next time I visit DC (which is several times a year). >>

Absolutely a must see if your into history...hours are open to public, no appt. necessary

Pistareen · November 28, 2006 1:47AM

Longacre --

The numismatic stuff is on file at a faceless building at College Park, MD, the main NARA facility. While there is some stuff stored there on the National Mall, the only real reason to go is to be completely and utterly impressed by the few documents on display: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They are tearjerking.

And, occasionally, they'll have some other doodad on display, like the original draft Gettysburg Address or something.

It's more museum and less library, at least the public part. The real research is mostly done out in CPMD.

PhillyJoe · November 28, 2006 1:48AM

RWB gets his mail delivered there. Saves the trouble of stopping home.

Edit to add: Maybe I'm thinking of College Park.

Joe

Longacre · November 28, 2006 1:59AM

<< <i>Longacre --

The numismatic stuff is on file at a faceless building at College Park, MD, the main NARA facility. While there is some stuff stored there on the National Mall, the only real reason to go is to be completely and utterly impressed by the few documents on display: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They are tearjerking.

And, occasionally, they'll have some other doodad on display, like the original draft Gettysburg Address or something.

It's more museum and less library, at least the public part. The real research is mostly done out in CPMD. >>

Thanks. I thought the Declaration, etc. were in another of the museums. Now I am miffed that I did not stop in.

(Although my daughter liked the dinosaurs and the diamonds/gems at the Natural History museum).

CaptHenway · November 28, 2006 2:19AM

I thought that the dinosaurs were over in the Capitol building......

Merc · November 28, 2006 4:29AM

I visited the National Archives last December. The security is higher than going on an airplane. after a bit of waiting in line, you do get to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence is so faded, you can barely read any of it.

RWB · November 28, 2006 5:08AM

There are two NARA facilities in “Washington.” The main building is in DC near the Mall. The public display areas not only include the fundamental documents of the democracy (something the elected suitguys just down the street might take time to read once in a while), but rotating special exhibits and a fairly large auditorium for concerts, historic readings and other events. The other part of the building contains library stacks and reading rooms for microfilm and paper documents. For coin collectors the files of the Commission of Fine Arts are stored here. When I requested the CFA files as part of research for my RAC 1916-1921 book, the archivist told me I was the first person to request these files since they had been transferred in the 1950s. There is a lot of genealogical info here and that represents about 90% of the staff’s work. (Much like NARA City Center in Philadelphia)

The other “Washington” facility is a huge NARA building in College Park MD just off of Adelphi Road near the University of Maryland. This is a research facility that includes all of the US Mint HQ documents, plus documents from many of the other federal bureaus and agencies. It has a large collection of Civil War & Confederacy documents and literally miles of WW-II combat and intel records. Even the Nixon Watergate tapes are there. If you ever want to hold a letter written by Lincoln or T. Roosevelt or FDR or Gen Zachary Taylor, etc. they are here.

There are two other research facilities in the area worthy of special note. The Library of Congress – nearly all the presidential papers through Cal Coolidge – and many more persons known to coin collectors. The Smithsonian Archives of American Art includes a huge amount of information on American artists and those in related fields.

Security at all these places is tight and you have to be registered and, in some cases, pass a background check before you can get into the document archives. At all of the places, staff members pull document for you – this can take an hour or more each time.

Contrary to rumor, I do not get my mail there – only the unmarked bundles of cash are delivered by Guido and Rocco.

Barry · November 28, 2006 5:26AM

<< <i>I thought that the dinosaurs were over in the Capitol building...... >>

No. They are on 57th St. in NYC.

For those who have been to the National Archives in Washington, DC...

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