The National Archives Welcomes Millionth Visitor in FY 2015
Press Release · Monday, July 27, 2015

Washington, DC

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Archivist David S. Ferriero with the McCarragher Family L-R: Joe, Lily, Laura, Jackson and Noah.

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Archivist David S. Ferriero greets Lily McCarragher. Photo by Michelle Farnsworth for the National Archives.

The National Archives welcomed its millionth visitor for Fiscal Year 2015 on Thursday, July 23. Rising fifth grader Lily McCarragher, from Iowa City, Iowa, was warmly greeted by Archivist David S. Ferriero. She was accompanied by her parents, Joe and Laura, and brothers Jackson and Noah. While this was Lily’s first visit to the National Archives in Washington, DC, she shared that she had a great time on her recent class field trip to the National Archives Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa.

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Lily and her family were five of the many visitors who come to the National Archives each year to see the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, the Records of Rights and Public Vaults exhibitions, programs and films in the William G. McGowan Theater, and changing exhibits in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery.

Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom

The Charters of Freedom: Our Nation’s Founding Documents exhibit takes a fresh look at the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and uses facsimiles of historical documents from the holdings of the National Archives to answer two key questions about each Charter --“How did it happen?” and “Why is it important?” This exhibit is an attempt to answer questions visitors often ask when see the Charters.

Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery

The O’Brien Gallery is a 3,000 square-foot gallery for special and traveling exhibitions at the National Archives. The current exhibition, Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History, uses nearly100 National Archives documents and artifacts to reveal the Federal Government’s efforts, successes, and failures to change our drinking habits, from whiskey rations to the Continental Army to the Whiskey Rebellion to Prohibition and beyond. Spirited Republic, which runs through January 10, 2016, is presented in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of HISTORY® and the Lawrence F. O'Brien Family.

Records of Rights Exhibition

The new Records of Rights exhibition in the David M. Rubenstein Gallery is located on the main floor of the National Archives Museum. The exhibit incorporates stories of many individuals, including African-Americans, women, and immigrants, whose struggle for rights in the decades following the Declaration of Independence is documented in records at the National Archives. At the center of the exhibit is a 17-foot interactive table where visitors can become part of the exhibit by exploring and sharing additional records. Explore this exhibit online at recordsofrights.org

Public Vaults Exhibition

The Public Vaults exhibition brings visitors beyond the Rotunda and creates the feeling of entering the stacks and vaults of the National Archives. Containing over 1,100 records and 22 interactive stations, the exhibition shows the raw materials from which history is made, while also relaying compelling personal stories of both our nation’s leaders and “ordinary” Americans.

The Archives Shop

Visitors have one last important stop to make before they leave – a special shop where they can purchase some treasures of their own. By far, the most popular items are reproductions of the Charters of Freedom.

Information and Hours

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is free and open to the public. The Museum is located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Information on individual and group tours is online. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and December 25). For up-to-date information on events and programs, see the Calendar of Events. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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