威尼斯人娱乐场

Special Report in Prologue Hightlights Launch of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience
Press Release 路 Monday, September 8, 2003

Washington, DC

The story of how the nation's founding documents-the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights-were carefully removed from old encasements, given expert preservation treatment, and returned to public display at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington is revealed in detail in the Fall issue of Prologue: Quarterly of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration.

In a special report, "Renewing the Spirit of Independence," Prologue marks the return of these documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, to public display on September 18 in the Rotunda of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building. Their return also launches the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience, a multimedia, interactive permanent exhibit that will take visitors "inside the stacks" of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 to learn the story of America.

In "A New Era Begins for the Charters of Freedom," NARA's conservators reveal to Prologue readers how they carefully removed each of the Charters from their old encasements and performed expert conservation treatment before placing them in state-of-the-art encasements equipped with technology to monitor the documents' condition while they are sealed inside.

"Far sighted as they were, the Framers could never have dreamed of the steps that future caretakers would take-and the amazing space-age tools and technologies brought to bear-to ensure the preservation of their words written on parchment in the last decades of the eighteenth century," the conservators write.

The special report also details the top-to-bottom renovation of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building on the Mall in Washington that is bringing a renovated Rotunda, with adjoining exhibit space for other components of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience, including the new William G. McGowan Theater.

The new 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building Research Center, opening this fall, is described in another article that explains how it will bring together many of the agency's research services now located on upper floors of the building and even add some new services. The consolidation is aimed at making research easier, speedier, and more efficient.

The 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience is previewed in another article that explains how visitors can have interactive experiences involving some of the historic holdings in the 威尼斯人娱乐场.

Archivist John W. Carlin, in his regular column, announces the next step the 威尼斯人娱乐场 will take as part of its role in the project titled Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service. The project focuses on 100 milestone documents in American history, most of which are in NARA's holdings.

Selected articles from the Fall issue, including the entire "Renewing the Spirit of Independence" special report can be viewed at the NARA web site at www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/index.html

The Fall issue also includes Prologue's regular features, including Genealogy Notes and Spotlight on NARA as well as a feature on the letters that outraged Americans sent to Federal regulators after the 1938 broadcast "War of the Worlds," which led many people to believe there was a Martian invasion.

For 35 years, Prologue has shared with readers the rich resources and programs of the 威尼斯人娱乐场, its regional archives, and the Presidential libraries. Each issue features historical articles-drawn from 威尼斯人娱乐场' holdings and written by noted historians, archivists, and experts-as well as articles explaining and describing many of the 威尼斯人娱乐场' activities and programs as the nation's recordkeeping agency. The Washington Post said, "Prologue . . . can be regarded quite literally as an invitation for further study. It is also consistently absorbing reading."

A 1-year subscription to Prologue costs $16. To begin a subscription, call 301-837-1850 or 1-800-234-8861, or print out the order form found on the web site at http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/subscribe_to_prologue.html. Subscribe now and get a free special issue in 2004 highlighting the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience.

Copies of Prologue can be purchased in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Experience Museum Shop and the Publications Sales Office (Room 406) at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building in Washington and the Publications Sales Office at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in College Park, MD.

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