US National Archives

10/23/2026

Still trying to come up with a clever Halloween costume? We’ve got you covered with some history and archival-themed costume ideas!

(If you go with a “ghastly archival object,” let us know which one you picked. We’re dying to hear! 👻)

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10/21/2026

The best way to spend your Tuesday evening is with us for Civics Trivia Night at the National Archives Museum!📜See the National Archives Foundation post below for registration and details. ⬇️

You don’t have to be Benjamin Gates to get into the National Archives after hours 🕵️

Just bring your phone, friends, and civics A-game for Civics Trivia, happening NEXT week!

📅 Oct 27 | 🕖 7pm
🍕 FREE Pizza + door prizes
🔗 to register: https://t.co/SXG3JPxzgA

10/19/2026

On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia after over 7,000 British and German troops were taken as prisoners by American and French troops. The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution.

While no contemporary proof exists, legend has it that hours after the surrender, British troops marched out of Yorktown to the tune “The World Turned Upside Down.” Almost two years later, the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, brought an official end to the Revolutionary War.

10/16/2026

It sounds like a sci-fi video game, but this is a color analyzer at the National Archives! 🕹️ With this machine, preservation staff can view and set light cues for film negatives and adjust light levels for red, green, and blue at specific frames. By using punched paper tape, staff can make density and color corrections. This helps in the creation of a new film copy that replicates how the film would have looked at the time it was made.

10/14/2026

No gatekeeping here! It’s Day, and our archivists answered the top 5 questions they get asked working at the National Archives.

Swipe through to find out:
1️⃣Back to the basics: what’s a record?
2️⃣How we organize so many records (we have 13.5 BILLION pieces of paper, by the way!)
3️⃣The real deal on handing records with and without gloves
4️⃣ How to handle your own family records
5️⃣How to get started on archival research at the National Archives

Society of American Archivists

10/13/2026

🚢Happy 251st birthday to the U.S. Navy!

At the National Archives, we preserve a wide range of Navy records, from photographs and maps to films and electronic records, offering a glimpse into the Navy’s storied past. Our special media collections include images of ships, aircraft, and personnel; combat footage from World War II; and detailed ship plans.

Explore these resources and dive into the Navy's legacy through our Department of the Navy Records research page: https://www.archives.gov/research/military/navy ⚓Navy Reserve

10/09/2026

A couple of months ago, we highlighted some of our nation’s lesser-known Founding Fathers. Today, we’re sharing the stories of some Founding Ladies—women whose boldness and vision helped shape America.

10/07/2026

Shortly after assuming the role of First Lady, Betty Ford received a breast cancer diagnosis. On September 26, 1974, doctors discovered a tumor in her breast, leading to a mastectomy two days later. Breaking with social conventions of the time, Betty Ford openly shared her cancer diagnosis with the public.

​While public openness about healthcare might not seem unusual today, Betty Ford's advocacy in the 1970s for early detection, regular screenings, and awareness of treatment possibilities made an extraordinary impact and led to a widespread surge in mammograms known as the “Betty Ford blip.”

The Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum

10/06/2026

Massive Corinthian columns, allegorical sculptures, and the largest sliding bronze doors in the WORLD! The National Archives Building is the most ornate structure in Washington, DC’s Federal Triangle.

Learn more below from Best Address Group, LLC, book your National Archives "Art & Architecture tour at https://visit.archives.gov/visit/tours-group-visits, and check out our special topics page for more history: https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/national-archives-building

10/05/2026

Happy ! Following last week, we’re spotlighting the Digital Records Division at the National Archives, whose dedicated work ensures our nation’s digital records are preserved and accessible.

The Digital Records Division oversees every stage of the archival lifecycle for born-digital federal records, accessioning digital record types in over 60 formats ranging from computer aided design (CAD) drawings and digital cinema to textual data, spreadsheets, web records, and more. 💾💻

​Many holdings are available in the National Archives Catalog at catalog.archives.gov for the public to explore online or download the full data files.