Series: The National Archives as a National Historic Landmark

The National Archives was recently nominated as a National Historic Landmark. Learn more about how the National Archives is significant from the individuals involved with its creation and design, the politics that led to its construction, as well as the moment the archives became home to some of the most important documents in American history.

• Article 1: Creating a Legacy: The Development of the National Archives

  

  The National Archives serves a symbol for preserving American heritage. Designed and constructed during the Progressive era, the archive began as a place to protect and store important government documents and records. Today it continues to be an institution that makes those records available to the public and shares the voices of American people. NPS Photo Read more

• Article 2: J. Franklin Jameson and the Effort to Create a National Archive

  

  John Franklin Jameson is credited as the father of the National Archives. As a historian and archivist, he was adamant that a secure repository for important federal documents be constructed. Without his advocacy, it is likely that the National Archives would not have been established in 1934. Read more

• Article 3: Federal Architecture: Private Architects and Public Projects

  

  The National Archives was built during the Progressive era, a time where city beautification was used to solve social issues. The archive was a part of a larger federal building project that resulted in the Federal Triangle. This project was a catalyst for including private architects in the design of federal buildings, which was a rare occurrence since the 1890s. Read more

• Article 4: John Russell Pope: Architect

  

  John Russell Pope was an accomplished architect who was largely influenced by the Beaux-Arts architectual style, which drew on classical Greco-Roman design elements. One of Pope's most renowned buildings is the National Archives, built towards the end of his career. Read more

• Article 5: How the National Archives Became Home to the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights

  

  The National Archives was established in 1934 to be a repository of important government documents due to inadequate storage of important federal records elsewhere. It was not until almost two decades later that the founding documents of the United States made their way into the Archives to ensure their protection. Read more