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US National Archives

The nation's record keeper. Visit: https://visit.archives.gov/ Welcome to the official page for public news and events at the National Archives.

09/04/2026

This Labor Day, take a moment to explore our special topics page dedicated to the history of labor and labor rights in America. These records cover unions, strikes and responses, debates about women and children in the workplace, and the Government’s role in providing economic security and workplace rights. https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/labor-day

🏛️National Archives research rooms will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8. The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, will remain open.

09/03/2026

Some people think the Declaration of Independence marked the end of the Revolutionary War, but that’s not quite the whole story. While the Declaration of Independence marked the birth of our nation, it was actually the Treaty of Paris that formally recognized the United States as an independent country.

Signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, take a closer look at the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War.

09/02/2026

World War II, the deadliest military conflict in history, ended six years and one day after the war erupted in Europe. On September 2, 1945, just four months after N**i Germany’s surrender, Japanese officials issued an imperial order and signed a formal surrender ending hostilities in the Pacific Theater.

The National Archives holds extensive records documenting the end of , including photos, military service files, audiovisual records, and more.

💡Learn more about the Instrument of Surrender: https://docsteach.org/document/instrument-surrender/
💡Explore WWII finding aids: https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/finding-aids.html

09/01/2026

What’s more relaxing, watching a machine zoom across a sheet of acid-free corrugated board or watching members of our Conservation Lab assemble custom-size boxes that can safely house records of a variety of materials? 📦

08/28/2026

Presidential paw-traits for ! 🐾

08/26/2026

Honoring the incredible legacy of Dolly Parton, a global songwriter, singer, philanthropist and child literacy advocate.

In 2006, Dolly Parton was awarded at the Kennedy Center Honors for her contributions to American culture and performing arts. See more photos from this historic evening in the National Archives Catalog.

08/25/2026

25 years ago, the terrorist attacks on September 11 changed history. Records held at the National Archives give insight into the moments before, during, and after the attacks. Now through October 28, 2026, visitors to the National Archives Museum will see "Remembering 9/11," the newest exhibition as part of "Opening the Vault."

Reserve tickets to see this exhibit in person, or visit our website to see the virtual exhibit: https://visit.archives.gov/whats-on/explore-exhibits/opening-vault

08/24/2026

Sometimes the best inventions begin as a lucky accident!

Naval mechanical engineer Richard T. James accidentally invented the childhood stable toy, the Slinky, in 1943 while working on springs to stabilize ship equipment. He knocked one off a shelf and watched it “walk” down gracefully instead of falling to the floor. James demoed his toy at Gimbels department store in 1945, and sold 400 toys in just 90 minutes!

From a naval experiment to the National Toy Hall of Fame, see the official patent for yourself in The American Story exhibit at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, or view the patent in our online Catalog.

Plan your visit: visit.archives.gov.
United States Patent and Trademark Office

08/21/2026

The United States Senate voted on August 7, 2026, to confirm Bradford P. Wilson as Archivist of the United States. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump, Wilson begins his tenure as the head of the National Archives and Records Administration today, August 21, 2026.

Dr. Wilson previously served as the James Wilson Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Civic Thought in the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University. In 2024, he retired from his long-time position as Executive Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Lecturer in Politics, and Fellow of Forbes College at Princeton University.

Wilson received his BA from North Carolina State University, his MA from Northern Illinois University, and his PhD in Politics from The Catholic University of America.

Press Release: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/nr26-4

08/20/2026

A map that leads to gold? We’ve got that!

This 1884 map shows the gold mines of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, before Idaho became a state. This is just one of 15 million (and counting!) cartographic and architectural treasures in our holdings.

From historic railroad maps to nautical charts, explore more here: https://www.archives.gov/research/cartographic

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