The National Archives holds some of the most important documents in the history of the United States and is a must-see on any trip to Washington. There you can see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, along with other documents on display.

The Magna Carta of 1297 was King Edward I of England's recognition of earlier Great Charters (the first was signed by King John in 1215) which was the foundation of English common law, and in turn was a basis of the government of the United States. The Magna Carta held in the National Archives is on loan indefinitely from the Perot Foundation.

I attempted to take a picture of the display of the Declaration of Independence, but the lighting conditions made it difficult. The document is badly faded from poor preservation techniques in the 19th century and is now housed in a case that is environmentally controlled and has a tinted glass over the document to prevent further deterioration.

The front of the National Archives building

The Magna Carta of 1297

The National Archives and the moon