Reservations and Tours

Reservations are not required to visit the National Archives Museum. However, advance reservations are highly recommended during the height of the tourist season (March through Labor Day) and during holiday seasons such as the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Reservations allow visitors to avoid lengthy waits to enter the building. 

Timed Entry Reservations

  • Self-guided Timed-Entry reservations are offered every 15 minutes beginning at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 90 minutes before closing, daily. 
  • Individuals may reserve up to 20 spaces. 
  • Groups may reserve up to 100 spaces for a Timed Entry (note - since only 55 spaces are available for each interval, any order of more than 50 spaces may cross multiple intervals).
  • The service charge for online reservations is $1.00 per person; admission to all of the National Archives Museum exhibits is free.
  • Tickets are available 90 days in advance.
  • Timed-Entry reservation holders use the Museum’s general public entrance near the corner of 9th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. 

Reserve Timed-Entry Tickets

Guided Tours

  • Once a day, Monday through Friday, at 9:45 a.m. we offer a one-hour docent-led guided tour of the National Archives Museum. The tour includes the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom (home to the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights) and the Public Vaults permanent, interactive exhibit gallery.
  • Individuals and groups may reserve up to 15 spaces for the Guided Tour.
  • The service charge for online reservations is $1.00 per person; admission to all of the National Archives Museum exhibits is free.
  • Tickets are available 90 days in advance.
  • Guided Tour reservation holders use the Special Events entrance enter near the corner of 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.

Reserve a Guided Tour

All visitors will go through security screening upon entry.

There are NO REFUNDS on any ticket orders. When the Archives is unexpectedly closed due to special events, national security concerns, or for other reasons, it will NOT be able to refund any money. In these cases, attempts will be made to re-book your tickets to another date. An unexpected closure of the National Archives is the ONLY time tours may be re-booked. All other orders are final and cannot be changed once payment is completed.

Reservations can also be made through the Call Center: 1-877-444-6777, Group Sales Reservations: 1-877-559-6777, or TDD: 1-877-833-6777.