Skip-the-line DC National Archives VIP ALL ACCESS Guided Tour
- 1–2.5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Our SKIP-THE-LINE VIP ALL ACESS TOUR. Discover the United States’ turbulent history through works preserved in the National Archives. Exclusive guided tours will bring you face to face with the seemingly humble documentation that gave birth to the most powerful nation in the world. The National Archives will introduce you to the original paperwork that formed the United States of America. What does VIP ACCESS mean? - Skip-the-Line Priority entry into the Archives Building - Skip-the-Line Priority Access to the Rotunda (to view Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta)
Inclusions
What's included
- Tour Guide Exclusively For You (Does NOT apply if you choose "SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE" option)
- Skip-the-Line Access to the Rotunda (View Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights)
- Wheelchair Friendly (Does NOT apply if you choose "SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE" option)
- SKIP-THE-LINE VIP ALL ACESS TOUR Guided Museum Tour
- Skip-the-Line Priority entry into the Archives Building
What's not
- Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
- Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
Step through the doors of this majestic neoclassical building, often called a temple to American history. Follow your guide into the National Archives Rotunda to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution while standing before these remarkably preserved documents. Alongside the Bill of Rights and Federalist Papers, you’ll see signatures from famous statesmen such as Alexander Hamilton. Next, explore the Public Vaults Exhibits, where letters from presidents including George Washington and John F. Kennedy are on display. Learn about the Emancipation Proclamation and its role in ending slavery, then see documents connected to the Civil Rights Movement, including a citation issued to Rosa Parks. Finally, in the Rubenstein Gallery, examine the 1297 Magna Carta. Written centuries before the founding of the United States, it profoundly influenced many of the historic documents housed in the National Archives today.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 5402
- 44
- 38
- 22
- 12
Ratings come from 418 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Fascinating and fun tour of the Archives
Alan was an excellent tour guide and extremely knowledgeable & well prepared! He seemed to enjoy what he does and gave us a summary of our tour, a map of the mall and list of restaurants ect. We definitely will sign up for his Arlington Tour next time.
5Archive Tour
Allen was Great! Very knowledgeable and personable. We were able to move quickly to all the main historical documents while still being allowed to take time to fully appreciate them. He was spot on with his recommendations on things to do after our tour was over. And we can’t thank him enough for the map he gave us. It helped us move about to see all the things we planned for the day. Thank you again!
5See US History
This museum is So Much More than the Constitution and Declaration of Independence! You could easily spend several hours here and having a knowledgeable guide to hit the highlights was Fantastic. Rebecca really knew her history and was very dramatic in telling the story behind many great documents and paintings etc. Highly recommend!
5Great tour
We are so glad we did this guided tour rather than attempting to navigate the Archives by ourselves. Our guide, Rebecca, was an awesome historian who made the documents come alive and knew just which ones to highlight. She was genuinely enthusiastic and brought humor to the history as well. Highly recommend.
5Awesome Experience
Jim was an awesome guide. He was so friendly and knowledgeable. He took us to the most important things first so we had quiet time to enjoy before it became busy which was great!
5Skip the line national archives
Annemarie was an amazing guide. She was very knowledgeable and personable. She told us things that we didn’t know about existed. We would definitely recommend her as a guide. We would book her again on any other tours as well
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Meet on the bottom of the front stairs of the National Archives Building on Constitution Ave. NW
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Babylon Tours DC
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A maximum of 6 people permitted per tour allowed
- Notes: National Archives 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.
How it compares in Washington DC
- Its from-price is 31% below the median of the 767 experiences we list in Washington DC.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 41 of 767.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Washington DC
Washington, DC is the US capital, a planned city on the Potomac, with a National Mall of monuments and museums and cherry trees in spring.
Washington was planned as a capital in the 1790s, with broad avenues radiating from the Capitol. The National Mall stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, past the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool. Memorials to Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr stand around the Tidal Basin, where cherry trees bloom in late March or early April. The White House stands just north of the Mall.
Top-ranked sights in Washington DC: The White House, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial.
Special offers in Washington DC
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
