National Archives Seal Mug

• National Archives Store Exclusive
• Marbled ceramic
• Sturdy design

• Product Description

• A mug of substance! This robust mug feels sturdy in your hand. Start the day off right with your morning beverage from this beauty. On one side is the Great Seal of the United States. The other displays this statement: “The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is America’s record keeper, ensuring access to the documents that explore the rights of American citizens and the unique stores that define our nation.” The scroll above the eagle of the Great Seal reads “Littera Scripta Manet”--“The written letter abides.”

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.