National Archives Skip the Line Guided Tour
Skip the public line and stand before the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta with a licensed DC guide who has researched every gallery. Your group of six enters through a separate entrance reserved for us, so the ninety minutes are spent with the documents, not in the queue outside.
What’s included
- A licensed DC guide and a group of no more than 6
- Entry to the National Archives Museum through a separate entrance, no public line
- The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom: the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights
- The 1297 Magna Carta and the Records of Rights gallery
Itinerary
We meet at National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th St NW.
Know before you go
- The tour lasts 90 minutes. The museum is indoors, but we meet outside at the Sculpture Garden, so dress for the weather.
- Non-flash photos and video for personal use are welcome in all public areas of the museum, including the Rotunda, unless a sign says otherwise. Flash, selfie sticks, monopods and tripods are not allowed.
- Everyone goes through security on the way in: a metal detector and an x-ray scan of your things. One bag per person, no bigger than 17 by 26 inches. Food, drinks and gum are not allowed in the exhibits.
- The Archives is closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25.
- Expect a text from your guide about two hours before the tour with exact meeting instructions.
Private tour
Same route, same guide, just your group. Your own date and time.
$300 private booking fee, plus $65 per guest
Meeting point
- We meet at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004, on the corner of 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, directly across the avenue from the National Archives.
- Expect a text from your guide about two hours before the tour with exact meeting instructions.
FAQ
Do I need to reserve my own timed entry?
No. Your group enters through a separate entrance reserved for us, so there is nothing to book and no public line to stand in. Bring your booking confirmation and a photo ID.
Why only six guests?
That is the size of group our entrance admits at a time, and it is the right size for standing in front of a single document together. Larger parties can book more than one departure or a private tour.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
The National Archives Museum is step-free with elevators between floors. If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, tell us when you book and your guide will plan the route through the galleries accordingly.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later.
Reviews
Mark was awesome. Gave lots of information and that helped us understand what we were looking at when we went back after the tour of the library.
Kimberly D.
Viator
Our guide, Derick, was excellent. We learned a few tidbits that we had never known. He was very engaging and enthusiastic about the subject matter. I would highly recommend this tour.
Verified guest
GetYourGuide
This was my favorite tour I took in this visit to DC. Ryan, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Loved the great communication from the tour company before our trip.
Rocky G.
Viator
Mark Zito was fantastic. So knowledgeable and good natured. Definitely take a tour with him.
Brian S.
Derek did an awesome job of our tour of Arlington! We saw so many important sites and the changing of the guard was the best!
Todd B.
Tripadvisor
Mark was a great tour guide. Very informative and knowledgeable!
Jonathan B.
We had an outstanding experience, Ryan from Cirnerstone was very knowledgeable and engaging. The tour was a great choice for us, we saw a lot and we learned a lot.
Verified guest
Tripadvisor
Jesse was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and personable. He made sure everyone was on board with every place we went.
Teresa F.
Viator
I forgot his name but it was the man with ponytail. He was extremely knowledgeable and kind. And was such an enjoyable tour!!! We loved it.
Verified guest
Viator
Ryan our Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, fun and witty! This is a MUST DO tour!! The history given is better than what was given to us in school!!
Lisa O.
Viator
Ryan was an excellent tour guide. He was friendly well spoken and very knowledgeable about the Capital building, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. I would highly recommend this tour.
Paul C.
Tripadvisor
The tour is a great introduction to the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and the Capital building. Very knowledgeable tour guide. There is a good amount of walking but there is time for breaks at each stop.
Judy L.
Viator
Jesse was an amazing guide! Very knowledgeable, I learned so much. I would definitely tell people to book a tour with him
Allie A.
Tripadvisor
Jessie is awesome!! He answered our questions and was super knowledgeable! Highly recommend!
Verified guest
Tripadvisor
Very informative & Declan was an excellent tour guide… he added bits and pieces of info that you would not get elsewhere Lauren October 21 ,2026
Lauren K.
Viator
Mark was great! He was very kind about others being late but got us back on track! He’s very knowledgeable about the US Capitol and Library of Congress + the Supreme Court. He made it interesting and easy to follow along! Thanks Mark!
Jessica W.
Mark was a fantastic tour guide! He was very informative and had great energy! Would highly recommend Mark!
Kristen K.
Ryan was great. Knowledgeable & witty. W prepared to be in awe. Every building was magnificent! So not skip this tour! Loved using the underground tunnels
Lozano Y.
Viator
Did a great job!! Jesse is very knowledgeable and great at his job!
Dewella C.
Tripadvisor
Derek was a great guide! This tour was the highlight of our visit to DC. Definitely worth the time and money. Do it!!
Jennifer M.
Ryan was an engaging and informative speaker. We initially booked through Trip Advisor, but after I realized that I had booked a tour for only two of the Big Three (Library of Congress, Supreme Court, Capitol Building) I contacted Cornerstone Tours and they made the switch easily. At the Capitol Bldg, you get passed off to one of their tour guides…and he was also an excellent guide.
Sande B.
Tripadvisor
Very informative and interesting. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking. Our guide, Derek, was engaging and helpful.
Robert H.
Viator
Declan was our guide and he was knowledgeable & a pleasure! Was a weekday and tons of people.. he led us to tunnels to bypass the long lines into the Library of Congress which was nice. The history and details of the art inside and the Thomas Jefferson personal library was amazing! I could’ve stayed for hours just looking at the art and architecture alone.
Deborah B.
Viator
This gave a good overview of sites. Guide was friendly, knowledgeable and responsive. Group size is reasonable.
Cedric M.
Viator