Archives Building Sketch in Watercolor Ceramic Ornament

• National Archives Store Exclusive
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Ceramic
• Off-white ribbon hanger

• Product Description

• Envisioned and drawn by a local artist, this National Archives building ornament comes printed with soft hues of yellow. The iconic image of the Archive building's north portico shows the sheer grandeur of the temple of our history with its  Corinthian columns.

In 1930, New York Architect John Russell Pope was selected to design the National Archives Building. Pope's neoclassical design included both practical and symbolic aspects of housing the nation's records. He proposed a monumental structure with highly decorative architectural features, giant Corinthian columns, 40-foot bronze doors, and inscriptions representing the building's historical importance.

Construction began in 1931 with a groundbreaking ceremony on Pennsylvania Avenue. On February 20, 1933, President Herbert Hoover laid the cornerstone of the building, dedicating it to the people of the United States.

In December 2023, the National Archives Building was designated as a National Historic Landmark.