“The American Story is boldly presented in this exciting new exhibition that blends 250 years of history with the latest technologies to create a one-of-a-kind museum experience. Millions of records in the National Archives shine light on America’s exceptional people – from the founding to present day – now digitized and waiting to be explored. We encourage visitors from across the United States and around the world to add this new museum to their Washington, DC itineraries and experience The American Story,” said Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Archivist of the United States.

“The American Story immerses guests in an interactive exploration of the people, ideas, and events that shaped 250 years of U.S. history through nine captivating galleries that spotlight categories of records in the National Archives. After selecting the topics of interest through AI-driven portals, visitors will be presented with historical content tailored to their individual interests that they can later revisit online,” said Byron.

The American Story at a Glance, so to speak
The exhibit has several dozen historic, original artifacts, documents, patents, and film slips, including:
• George Washington’s annotated draft Constitution.
• The Louisiana Purchase Treaty.
• Notable patents, including Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, Barbie, and Yoda from Star Wars.
• Declassified records from the Cuban Missile Crisis and UFO sightings.
• The first government sponsored film capturing the Wright Brothers’ test flight.
• State gifts to Presidents, including horseshoes gifted by Queen Elizabeth II to President George H.W. Bush.

Immediately adjacent to the museum galleries is a Discovery Center, with arcade games and a classroom with hands-on civics education activities for children and families. The American Story and Discovery Center are part of an extensive $40 million renovation, marking the first major transformation of the National Archives Museum in two decades. Learn more about the holdings of the National Archives at archives.gov. archives.gov