Skip-the-line DC National Archives VIP ALL ACCESS Guided Tour
Description
Our SKIP-THE-LINE VIP ALL ACESS TOUR. Discover the United States’ turbulent history through works preserved in the National Archives. Exclusive guided tours will bring you face to face with the seemingly humble documentation that gave birth to the most powerful nation in the world. The National Archives will introduce you to the original paperwork that formed the United States of America. What does VIP ACCESS mean? - Skip-the-Line Priority entry into the Archives Building - Skip-the-Line Priority Access to the Rotunda (to view Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta)
Tour Options
Itinerary
Step through the doors of this majestic neoclassical building, often called a temple to American history. Follow your guide into the National Archives Rotunda to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution while standing before these remarkably preserved documents. Alongside the Bill of Rights and Federalist Papers, you’ll see signatures from famous statesmen such as Alexander Hamilton. Next, explore the Public Vaults Exhibits, where letters from presidents including George Washington and John F. Kennedy are on display. Learn about the Emancipation Proclamation and its role in ending slavery, then see documents connected to the Civil Rights Movement, including a citation issued to Rosa Parks. Finally, in the Rubenstein Gallery, examine the 1297 Magna Carta. Written centuries before the founding of the United States, it profoundly influenced many of the historic documents housed in the National Archives today.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A maximum of 6 people permitted per tour allowed
- Notes: National Archives and other attractions or museums in DC 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.
Reviews(413)
Annemarie was an amazing guide. She was very knowledgeable and personable. She told us things that we didn’t know about existed. We would definitely recommend her as a guide. We would book her again on any other tours as well
Kate, our guide, was amazing! Very knowledgeable, nice and got us to the rotunda first!!! Great time!!!
Our Tour Guide AnneMarie was great. She knew pretty much everything. Took us to all of the different areas and explained everything. Answered our questions as well. Well worth it if you’re interested in hearing all the history and little details that you would miss if you were doing it on your own.
Paul our guide was Amazing!!! So informative and smart and make the tour so fun and engaging!!! Highly recommend him
Kate, our guide, was wonderful. Made it to the archives and got a lot of history and really great views of the documents. Then toured the supporting museums below. Once again, Kate was really great. Get this tour!
Lead up to the tour was fine. The weather was hot. We thought we had adequately prepared with water. We were told we couldn’t bring full water bottles into the visitor center, and that we should make sure that we finished our water before we got to the stairs. And ended up having to declare a medical emergency for my partner due to heat because she had no water standing in full sun for almost an hour. A number of people in our party were really struggling with the situation. Would’ve been better if we had been told to make sure we had finished our water by the time we reached the door.
Kate was great! Got us into the Archive rotunda before anyone else! We had plenty of space and time with the documents. She knew her history and shared wonderful information and interesting facts with us about them.
Great view form the top of the monument. The timed ticket was honored on time and no waiting. Visitors are limited so there is pleanty of room to take in the views from all the windows. Security is a bit disorganized as there is very little room to collect your items after scanning. Would do this activity again.
Allen was a great tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the history behind the exhibits. It was very well done.
Our tour guide, Maribeth Oakes, was above excellent! She was a wealth of knowledge and so great in explaining everything as we went through the National Archives. I thought she was a history teacher, since she knew so much about the history with the documents. Also, she was great in helping the four of us in our tour (one couple did not show up) to get any documents downloaded from the museum's archives if we wanted them. Please let her know how wonderful she is as a tour guide! Deborah & Chuck Gamber
