National Archives to Display Many of America’s Most Historic & Iconic Artifacts in New Exhibition Series in Washington, DC

National Archives to Display Many of America's Most Historic & Iconic Artifacts in New Exhibition Series in Washington, DC
Press Release · Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Washington, DC

As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the National Archives is launching Opening the Vault, a new exhibition series to put on display some of the most historically valuable and iconic artifacts in American history for the first time in many years.

The historical treasures now on view include:

• General George Washington's signed Oath of Allegiance to the United States, repudiating any allegiance to King George III and sworn while he and his troops were encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1778
• General George Washington's Revolutionary War account book, which served as an expense report of the Continental Army throughout the war
• Benjamin Franklin's handwritten postal ledger, created in his capacity as the first Postmaster General in 1775
• Benjamin Franklin's table of postal rates identifying what, and how much, was required to send a letter in 1775

The artifacts are the first installment of a new rotating exhibition series that will highlight landmark moments in American history called Opening the Vault. The first Opening the Vault rotation will be on display from May 7, 2025, through August 6, 2025.

"The National Archives has so many incredible objects that document the American Story, so rather than let them sit in a vault-where nobody gets to see them-we decided to 'open the vault' to show the American people some of the most significant records and artifacts in their history," said Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Acting Archivist. "These remarkable items are tangible bridges to the past, connecting the American story from 1776 right up to today."

These historic treasures also commemorate the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Postal Service, both to be celebrated in 2025.

The next Opening the Vault rotation will be announced over the summer.

Opening the Vault is on display at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission to the Museum is free. Go to https://visit.archives.gov/ to learn more about the museum experience.

View the virtual exhibit.