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U.S. National Archives

@USNatArchives

The nation's record keeper. Visit: https://xitter.gq/t.co/8dGaBVCjMG Policies: https://xitter.gq/t.co/KHNUTjM0m1

 Washington, D.C.
archives.gov/
Joined January 2010
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Happy World Digital Preservation Day! There are about 1.8 Petabytes, or 2 BILLION, electronic records in the custody of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Click below to learn some facts about digital preservation at NARA.⬇️ #DigiPres #WDPD2026
"What exactly is digital preservation" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day

ALT "What exactly is digital preservation" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day

"The first transfer of born-digital records to NARA took place in 1971!" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Images show NASA staff with a calculating machine (left) and Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom listening to Astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter during the Aurora 7 flight (right)

ALT "The first transfer of born-digital records to NARA took place in 1971!" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Images show NASA staff with a calculating machine (left) and Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom listening to Astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter during the Aurora 7 flight (right)

"Over the past decade, the volume of NARA's electronic records has more than doubled" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Image shows a computer operator in a computer room

ALT "Over the past decade, the volume of NARA's electronic records has more than doubled" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Image shows a computer operator in a computer room

"Lots of files means lots of file formats" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Image shows magnetic tape reels

ALT "Lots of files means lots of file formats" National Archives slide for World Digital Preservation Day. Image shows magnetic tape reels

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The National Archives Museum will close at noon on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Visitors may arrive between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and remain in the museum until the building closes at noon. The National Archives Museum will return to normal business hours on Friday, November 6.
National Archives Museum exterior

ALT National Archives Museum exterior

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Reminder! The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, will close at noon today, November 5, 2026, and return to normal business hours tomorrow, November 6.
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Today is Ask A Conservator Day! We are commonly asked, "What does a NARA conservator do in a day?" Here's one example: Watch how this dress from the @Ford_Library, owned by First Lady Betty Ford, was prepared to be on display at the National Archives Museum. #AskAConservator
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See the dress and many more Presidential gifts from America's Bicentennial Celebration, in person as part of "Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration"! Get tickets at visit.archives.gov. #NationalArchives
A case of Presidential gifts commemorating America's Bicentennial Celebration are on display as part of the "Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration" temporary exhibition at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.

ALT A case of Presidential gifts commemorating America's Bicentennial Celebration are on display as part of the "Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration" temporary exhibition at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.

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One of the most prominent features of the National Archives are the 72 Corinthian columns that encircle the building. Each limestone column stands 53 feet high, 5 feet 8 inches in diameter, and weighs 95 tons.
Stonemason among the Corinthian column capitals of the National Archives Building, c. 1933. NAID: 26326901

ALT Stonemason among the Corinthian column capitals of the National Archives Building, c. 1933. NAID: 26326901

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The National Archives columns were made in five sections, called “drums” which were brought in pieces then placed on top of each other to reach the full height. The ornate top of a Corinthian column is called the “capital.” Each capital is eight feet tall.
Detail of a Corinthian capital on the National Archives Building, c. 1932–1942. NAID: 26326971

ALT Detail of a Corinthian capital on the National Archives Building, c. 1932–1942. NAID: 26326971

National Archives Building with the United States Capitol in the background, January 2, 1936. NAID: 7820533

ALT National Archives Building with the United States Capitol in the background, January 2, 1936. NAID: 7820533

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The Office of Government Information Services at the National Archives will host a virtual event, Accessing Veterans Records: A Multi-Agency Forum, Tuesday, November 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. The virtual event will be livestreamed on our YouTube Channel, youtube.com/@usnationalarchi….
Image from U.S. National Archives (@USNatArchives)
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This forum will bring together subject-matter experts and representatives from multiple federal agencies who will explain the veterans and military-service records it holds, how those records can be requested, and common issues or misconceptions requesters encounter.
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Enter if you dare! Join us as we take you on a spooky Halloween ghost tour through the National Archives! 👻🎃 #Halloween #HistoryHumor #NationalArchives
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In 1863, President Lincoln declared that Americans should come together for a national day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Now at the National Archives Museum, see Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation, written "to heal the wounds of the nation." #NationalArchives
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863 is seen in a case in front of a poster showing a portrait of Lincoln.

ALT Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863 is seen in a case in front of a poster showing a portrait of Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln's signature on his Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

ALT Abraham Lincoln's signature on his Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

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Learn more about this exhibit display and get tickets to see it in Washington, DC: visit.archives.gov/whats-on/… #VisitWashingtonDC #Exhibits
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

ALT Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

A seal on the third page of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

ALT A seal on the third page of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863.

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See President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation of October 3, 1863 (Presidential Proclamation 106) in the National Archives Catalog: catalog.archives.gov/id/2999…
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Take a look into the National Archives conservation lab as Ewa conducts a conservation review for a volume of 200+ year-old founding-era Presidential proclamations in our holdings, including records signed by George Washington.
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The paper and parchment proclamations in this volume vary in size, length, and media, and each proclamation was originally attached to its own page in the volume. Several proclamations have been detached over time so that they may be exhibited individually.
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Treating the entire volume will allow each proclamation to be more easily accessed and displayed. The draft conservation plan following this review is to separate the proclamations from the mount pages, clean them, and mend them as needed. #AmericanArchivesMonth #NationalArchives
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The best way to spend your Tuesday evening is with us for Civics Trivia Night at the National Archives Museum!📜 See the @archivesfdn post below for registration and details. ⬇️
National Archives Foundation (@archivesfdn) profile pictureNational Archives Foundation@archivesfdnOct 21
You don’t have to be Nic Cage to sneak into the Archives 🕵️ No heist necessary. Just your phone, friends, and civics A-game. Civics Trivia Night at the @USNatArchives Museum is happening NEXT week! 📅 Oct 27 | 🕖 7pm 🍕 FREE Pizza + prizes 🔗archivesfoundation.org/event…
Image from National Archives Foundation (@archivesfdn)
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Last chance! Reserve your spot for Civic Trivia at the National Archives Museum, happening tomorrow, October 27, at 7 p.m.: archivesfoundation.org/event…
Civics Trivia at the National Archives - National Archives Foundation

Civics Trivia at the National Archives - National Archives Foundation

Calling all civics buffs and history nerds! Join us for a lively night of Civics Trivia and get ready to race through multiple-choice questions in real time.

archivesfoundation.org
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Happy National Pumpkin Day! We’re sharing two Presidential family favorites straight from the National Archives Catalog: First Lady Nancy Reagan’s pumpkin pecan pie and First Lady Bess Truman’s classic pumpkin pie! Which recipe will you be baking this fall season? 🥧
Nancy Reagan’s pumpkin pecan pie recipe, c. 1981-1989. NAID: 6731445

ALT Nancy Reagan’s pumpkin pecan pie recipe, c. 1981-1989. NAID: 6731445

Elizabeth (Bess) Truman’s pumpkin pie recipe, c. 1945-1953. NAID: 139308776

ALT Elizabeth (Bess) Truman’s pumpkin pie recipe, c. 1945-1953. NAID: 139308776

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Still trying to come up with a clever Halloween costume? We’ve got you covered with some history and archival-themed costume ideas! (If you go with a “ghastly archival object,” let us know which one you picked. We’re dying to hear! 👻) #Halloween #History
Photo of President and First Lady Eisenhower at the Presidential Inaugural Ball, Eisenhower Library, 68-349-10 and Wedding photo for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Carter Library, nlcMP9.55.

ALT Photo of President and First Lady Eisenhower at the Presidential Inaugural Ball, Eisenhower Library, 68-349-10 and Wedding photo for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Carter Library, nlcMP9.55.

Two images of Jack-o'-Lantern patent designs. RG 241, Utility Patent Drawings, 715379 and RG 241, Utility Patent Drawings, 848938

ALT Two images of Jack-o'-Lantern patent designs. RG 241, Utility Patent Drawings, 715379 and RG 241, Utility Patent Drawings, 848938

A list of "ghastly archival objects" from the National Archives House of Horrors flyer. Find out what spooky archival encounter will send you screaming from our stacks on Halloween by choosing the first letter of your first name and first letter of your last name.

ALT A list of "ghastly archival objects" from the National Archives House of Horrors flyer. Find out what spooky archival encounter will send you screaming from our stacks on Halloween by choosing the first letter of your first name and first letter of your last name.

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