National Archives Museum Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the National Archives Museum. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• National Mall Monuments Night Tour With 10+ Stops, Entry Tickets

• VIP Best of DC With US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

• Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

• Small-Group National Mall Night Tour With 10 Top Attractions

• Private Washington DC City Tour

General admission to the National Archives Museum is free, or you can reserve a timed-entry ticket for US$1. It’s a good idea to reserve your timed tickets online in advance to avoid waiting in line—during busy times, it can take up to an hour to enter the museum without one.

Yes, the National Archives Museum is definitely worth visiting if you're interested in US history and the law as it contains the country's founding documents. The museum is located in a wing of the National Archives, a 1930s neoclassical building that's also worth checking out. While admission to the museum is free, many guided tours of Washington DC's government buildings, memorials, and institutions pass by it.

Per one customer who booked the VIP Best of DC With US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry, "Our guide Nick was full of information from the moment we met to begin our day at the Capitol. The group arrived early so we were first in the queue for the security checks. Good planning. We had torrential rain all day but most of us braved the onslaught in our ponchos at the planned stops. An excellent day for us, helped by Nick and the lovely driver. We saw a lot of key sights without having to walk for miles."

The must-see exhibits at the National Archives Museum in Washington DC are significant pieces of American history—within the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom are the original founding documents for the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The Record of Rights gallery has an original 1297 Magna Carta and a 1790 broadside copy of the Bill of Rights on display.

Entry to the National Archives Museum is free. Timed-entry tickets are available online via the attraction’s website, allowing you easy access on arrival. You can also book a guided tour from a provider, which will usually include skip-the-line entry.

The National Archives Museum’s opening hours are from 10am until 5:30pm daily, with last admission 30 minutes ahead of closing. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

There are many options for parking near the National Archives Museum, including at Market Square East Garage and the Market Square West Garage, both on D Street SW. There are also garages on Indiana Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue, and E Street.

Yes, non-flash photography is allowed inside the National Archives Museum. Taking photos in some areas is prohibited, but this is clearly signposted.

It typically takes around 1-2 hours to visit the National Archives Museum, depending on how much time you spend reading the information that accompanies the exhibits. Times can vary if you join a tour.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the National Archives Museum. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Washington DC:

• The White House

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

• US Capitol

• Washington Monument

• Lincoln Memorial

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Washington DC.