Rotunda Re-Opens to the Public September 18!
Media Alert · Thursday, September 4, 2003

Washington, DC

Contact:
Susan Cooper or Laura Diachenko,
National Archives
301-837-1700
Jennifer Devlin,
Susan Davis International
202-414-0786

National Archives Rotunda Opens to the Public September 18

WHAT:
Opening Day of the National Archives Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.

• This is the first day that the public will be able to see the newly encased Charters of Freedom-the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
• For the very first time, all four pages of the Constitution will be on permanent display.
• New exhibition: "A New World Is At Hand" opens in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
• The day will be filled with free public events that are listed below.
• The media is invited to cover all events.

9:30 AM: Horse and Carriage will arrive in front of the National Archives Building, delivering the Founding Fathers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. (They will remain in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom until noon.)

9:45AM: The first 216 visitors in line on the Constitution Avenue side of the National Archives will be invited to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin and the Founding Fathers. (September 17 is the 216th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution).

10 AM - Midnight: National Archives Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom will be open to the public.

7 PM - 8 PM: The U.S. Navy Commodores will perform jazz and World War II swing music.

8:30 PM - 11:30 PM: "Voices of History" Sound and Light Show.

WHEN: Thursday, September 18, 2003

WHERE:
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
National Archives Building
Constitution Avenue, between 7th and 9th Street, NW

The media should use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance.

The public should use the new entrance on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW.

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