NATIONAL ARCHIVES EXPERIENCE,
Written: Jan 29 '04 (Updated Jun 01 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The new casings make this viewable to everyone.
Cons: More is still being prepared for viewing this fall, meaning it's not all open now.
The Bottom Line: The National Archives hold the key to all you see in Washington DC. Visit it. It doesn't take long and you are going to see the real deal.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: National Archives Experience |
My wife and I have visited the National Archives in past years. It closed two years ago for renovation. It reopened this past September. I had my first visit back last week. I already like what I see and there is much more to come.
SOME HISTORY
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency that secures the records of our three branches of government. It also serves the function of making these documents accessible to the public. A massive building was needed to store all these documents.
The Archives Building was designed by architect John Russel Pope. He also designed the Jefferson Memorial and The West Building of the National Gallery of Art that stands just a few hundred yards east and is also on Constitution Avenue. Pope used neoclassical design in much of his work. It is here, in a Greek temple like designed Rotunda, that the Three Charters of Freedom are encased and on view. The charters include The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.
These documents were first showcased in the Rotunda in 1952. They were elevated from the floor level so that you noticed the showcases from afar. People would move from a left to right order going up a ramp to come up to them. The three documents were in separate sealed cases, yet, next each other. The Constitution's first page only was on display. The other three pages were in a secure vault elsewhere in the building.
Due to being set horizontal to the floor and being as high as it was the documents were not easily visible, if at all, to children and people in wheelchairs.
In the rotunda, one on each wall, east and west, flanking the Three Freedoms, were two huge oils on canvas. These were painted by mural artist Barry Faulkner and installed in 1936.
One, titled the "Declaration of Independence", depicts Thomas Jefferson handing it to John Handcock. The other, titled "The Constitution" shows James Madison presenting that work to George Washington. These paintings, that are among the largest oils on a single piece of canvas in all the United States, measure 13'x36'.
Over the years dirt and grime had faded the original colours and the paintings were also having problems with the canvas bulging out away from the walls.
Until two years ago one would enter the Archives by ascending the grand stairs in front of the building. This presented some problems. The obvious one was that the thirty or forty steps up to the entrance made the rotunda inaccessible for some. Another entrance had to be available for those who could not use the stairs.
Another problem was that the stairs brought you right up to the rotunda, walk in the door and you are there. This presented problems of polluted air going directly into the room holding the sensitive documents and oil paintings. There was also the problem of extreme outdoor temperatures and humidity playing havoc in the room. Over time all this was taking a negative toll within.
Due to the grime on the paintings the huge undertaking of removing the two pieces of art from the walls, without damaging them, was performed. Each weighs over three hundred pounds. Special custom equipment was made to safely support doing this chore. The paintings were cleaned and brought back to the artists original colours and details of shadow and light.
There was something else that needed to be accomplished. Too many people visiting in the room would just see "faded lettering on old paper, sort of pay their respects, and then walk on". It was thought by the conservators of the NARA that, and these are my words, "We must bring significance, substance, interpretation, and meaning of these documents to the people of today and those to follow.".
A MESSAGE TO THE PRESS
At this point I would like to share the words printed for the press in reference to the renovation before it reopened last fall. Some of the renovation is ongoing.
When the National Archives in Washington, DC reopens its Rotunda on September 18, 2003, it will unveil not only the restored and re-encased Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, but the start of a whole new National Archives Experience for the education and inspiration of the American public. The National Archives, with the help of the Foundation for the National Archives, is creating a dramatic and powerful project to motivate people to care more deeply about democracy, learn about their individual stories, and make use of the patriotic spirit that lives on because of records.
The National Archives Experience is in essence a journey - a journey through time and a journey through American struggles and triumphs. It has the power to teach us how our nation's past can become a living instrument for directing our nation's future. Using exciting interactive components, the National Archives Experience will ensure that each visitor will take from it an understanding of his or her own personal and profound connection to the records in the National Archives. The National Archives Experience will accomplish this through six integrated components.....
OUR VISIT
When approaching the building on Constitution Ave you will note that the grand stairs are roped off. As you face the stairs, facing north, look to the left and there is a small sign directing visitors down a path. A guard is stationed outside. Just a note. You do not exit where you enter this building. You walk in on the west side of the grand stairs but leave from the east side. We were meeting other people after seeing the exhibit and this had to be addressed.
Security is set up inside the doors. The guards that day were very assertive. "EVERYTHING out of your pockets, EVERYTHING! Put it ALL in a bin. DO NOT take off your belt or any jewelry! ALL coats must go through the machine!! Please step through SLOWLY!!
Ha, my new knee and plugs in my shoulder always seem to set off the alarms. The process took about five minutes for us to get through.
We then took the elevator to the Rotunda level. Take note when going into the elevator. In fact try to get in first. There are two sets of doors, the first you just entered and another in the back. That's where you will depart.
These rear doors are a polished brass colour and engraved in them is The Declaration of Independence. Now here's a fact you won't find out through a Frommer's or Fodor's book. There are two miss-spellings in the door.
Whoops, the engraver goofed!
If you read the Declaration of Independence quickly, the elevator takes about ten seconds to get you to the rotunda level, maybe you can find them.
Look for the words "representative" and "only".
There are a few elevators going up, each has the engraving and the same mistakes.
As you enter the Rotunda you'll notice subdued lighting. This is part of the new system to help prevent further fading of the documents within. The two paintings, though refurbished still seem dark to me. Perhaps if I saw the unfinished work next to the completed work I would better appreciate it.
The room is set up with stations along the wall left to right west to north to east. First you can study documents and events that led up to the Three Charters of Freedom. Take time to do this. It helps bring even more substance to the story of the American revolution and fight for independence. You'll see the Royal Proclamation by the King George III of England suppressing rebellion and sedition.
Documented is part of the reaction to the Britain's iron fist, the pulling down of a prominent statue of the King that stood in lower Manhattan's Bowling Green area. Each document has a story.
One document is the Agreement to Secrecy signed by members of congress who were debating the issue of calling for independence. Many of them could have been hung as a traitor to the King.
Centrally located and flanked by two security guards is the Constitution. The new thing here is that all four pages of the Constitution are on view, I stated earlier that only the first page was previously on view.
To the left of center and a few feet away is the Declaration of Independence. To the right of the Constitution is the Bill of Rights. These are the originals. They are quite faded from the effects of time.
Some people try to read every word. Some just quietly look and then walk off. The guards are there for security, however, they are helpful and will answer some questions.
After seeing the Three Charters we followed the display cases on the east side. These held documents that ensued after the war. Most showed how our freedom, as a nation, also moved to give freedom to individuals. Slavery, immigration and suffrage issues are discussed with documents displayed. The effect of American independence on the world is also noted. France, Belgium, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina all received their own independence, in time, after being inspired by the American revolution.
I am now reading the book, John Adams, by David McCullough. Through reading this book and others like it, studying all that Adams and these other great men accomplished, and then seeing the actual documents in front of me, was a humbling experience.
MORE THERE NOW?
At one time there was a gift shop right next to the Rotunda. That has now been moved downstairs to a new and larger home. This is where you can get your very own duplicate copy of the Declaration of Independence. There is much more too. Kids will like it because they do have age applicable educational and fun items. They have an excellent book selection too.
The archives have new rest room facilities. These were badly needed. The current rest rooms are clean, well lighted, well maintained and well, new!
There was never a cafe or other facility for food and refreshment in the archives building. I have not noticed any plans for anything in the future.
There are street vendors nearby or you can walk to the National Gallery of Art to the east or the National Museum's of History to the west. They have a few places to eat in all those buildings. Washington DC has many fine restaurants that are close to the mall. I suggest looking some of them up. We have also gone to nearby Chinatown for inexpensive family dining. The Washington DC Chinatown, in my experience, is not a destination unto itself, however the food is good.
MORE TO COME
As I mentioned, more work is being done. In the fall a theatre that will hold over two hundred people will be complete and opened. This will be open on a daily basis.
The conservators have some very interesting plans for interaction of the public and the words of the documents that are under the roof of this magnificent building.
For more facts on the upcoming plans of the National Archives Experience go to their website. It's quite detailed.
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/index.html
It seems to me that the conservators are really working hard at making the archives a "must stop" while in Washington DC. Regardless of the new interactive and multi media plans, I still feel this place is worth a stop anytime while in DC.
At the same time, I am looking forward to updating this review in the fall. I'll also be very happy to see other reviews of the National Archives Experience.
Other DC reviews by popsrocks
The Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
The Vietnam Memorial
The Korean War Memorial
The National World War II Memorial This is a new major memorial that will be dedicated this May 2004
The National Gallery of Art
The National Archives This has just reopened and it's bigger and better!!
The National Air and Space Museum
Washington DC
Fairmont Washington Hotel
The Old Ebbit Grill Good Eats near the White House
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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