National Archives Guided Tour: Exclusive Semi-Private Experience

This semi-private guided tour, limited to 8 guests, offers a 1.5 to 2 hour intimate experience of viewing the modest documentation that led to the creation of the world’s most influential country. The National Archives presents you the authentic documents that established the United States of America.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • The National Archives Museum - Step through the doors of this majestic neoclassical building, considered a temple to American history. Follow your guide, starting at the National Archives Rotunda to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution while standing in front of the perfectly-preserved documents from the 17th and 18th centuries. Alongside the Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers, they all feature the signatures of world-famous statesmen like Alexander Hamilton.

Next, in the Public Vaults Exhibits, letters written by presidents including George Washington and John F. Kennedy are on display. The United States’ turbulent racial past comes alive while learning about the Emancipation Proclamation, which helped end slavery in the 19th century. More recent papers, like a citation issued to civil rights activist Rosa Parks, illustrates how long these racial issues lasted. Finally, in the Rubenstein Gallery, examine even older documents like the Magna Carta of 1297. Although it was written well before the Americas were even discovered by Europeans, it heavily influenced many of the other artifacts you’ll see in the National Archives.

What's Included
  • Semi-Private Museum Tour
  • Duration 1.5 - 2 Hours
  • Professional Tour Guide
  • Group Size Never More Than 8 Guests
What's Not Included
  • Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
  • Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
  • Tour is NOT available for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
Additional Information
  • It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
  • Minimum numbers apply. This tour will not run without a minimum of 2 guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
  • Notes: American History Museum 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.
Location
National Archives Museum
Constitution Avenue Northwest
Meet your guide on the corner of 9th Street NW and Constitution Ave.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(149 Ratings)
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317geraldn
Sep 26, 2024
National Archives - Maribeth found a way to share her vast amount of historical knowledge in a fun and engaging way that even a Canadian like myself could understand. By identifying focal points of the 3 key documents of American history, Maribeth helped me understand the significance of the documents and the uncertain and dangerous times in which they were drafted and signed. Amazing! Well done.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hope_m
Sep 25, 2024
An engaging experience - Maribeth was fantastic. Maribeth storytelling was engaging. She kept reengaging my 9 and 12 year olds with questions and offers to participate. She was patient and kind. I can’t imagine experiencing the national archives without her. Well worth the cost of the guided tour.
Review provided by Viator
653jamieo
Sep 3, 2024
Highly Recommend - Marybeth was a wonderful tour guide! Very informative and gave us plenty of time at the exhibits and for questions! It was great having someone so knowledgeable guide us!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidy985
Aug 18, 2024
Great Tour - Amazing tour and great information. Maribeth was a fantastic and knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend to anyone interested in the Archives
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary
Aug 17, 2024
National Archives tour- highly recommend! - Brenda provided an excellent tour! It was great to get details about ‘why’ and ‘how’ things transpired. Highly recommend this tour with Brenda!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erinkr4633uw
Aug 15, 2024
Fantastic - Annemarie was an unbelievable guide. She was very knowledgeable and made our tour much more worthwhile than if we had toured that ourselves. So many bits and pieces we would have missed out on!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mari
Jul 30, 2024
Wonderful way to understand historical context of founding documents - I am in DC with my history nerd granddaughter. This tour with Brenda was right up my granddaughter’s alley! Brenda not only put the documents in historical context, but also shared wonderful information on what has happened to the actual documents since they were originally written. She is a great storyteller and really drew us in to her narrations. One caveat for this tour—I think it is a good fit for someone with a real interest in history. I don’t think it would have been a good fit for my 9 year-old granddaughter who does not have as great of an attention span.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curious32229315681
Jul 28, 2024
National Archives tour - This was a great tour. Maribeth was very knowledgeable and engaging on all the ins and outs for the national archives. We look forward to future tours with her.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ozzy_m
Jul 28, 2024
I learned so much - Maribeth was great. Best history lesson I've ever had. Even my Adult and Teen boys were engaged and left with a sense of patriotic pride.
Review provided by Viator
443tinap
Aug 19, 2024
Not special or exclusive. - I thought we would get to see these documents and exhibits without the bother of the general public. Not true. There was really no line to skip for the ‘skip the line’ maybe because we went at 10 am on a Thursday. But we had to wait our turn like everyone else to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. The only difference was someone sharing their knowledge of the background and details which was very informative. Way too much time was spent on explaining the details of the murals in the main hall. I feel this tour was informative but overpriced.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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