Look at that line. Yikes.
This sign was a little foreboding.
Interesting architecture fact: The 72 Corinthian columns on the National Archives building are some of the largest in the city.
McKinsey and I finally make it to the front doors.
The Magna Carta just doesn't get much love. It was off to the side, before you even get into the rotunda. And no one was looking at it. Sad. I guess no one cares about 13th century documents that establish habeas corpus and influence the historical process that lead to modern constitution law. (Thanks, Wikipedia.)
The rotunda where the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are was packed with people. A guard was loudly proclaiming the rules of the place, namely no flash photography and no gum chewing.
The Declaration of Independence was in pretty rough shape, but still neat to see. If I remember my historical trivia correctly, the Declaration spent the first 30 years of its existence hanging in the direct sunlight in a hallway in some building in Philadelphia. That probably explains the fading.
The four documents of the Constitution.
Kinsey looking at the most important thing for Americans... breakfast. Oh no, wait, our Bill of Rights. I was thinking of the things you eat.
You know that scene in National Treasure where Nicolas Cage and that other guy just kind of stroll around looking at the Declaration of Independence all by themselves? Yeah, that's not the way it works.
Overall, a visit well worth the wait. Kinsey particularly found it interesting reading in person such lines as "life, liberty, and the pursit of happiness" since she had been learning about social justice at her bioethics conference earlier that day.
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