National Archives Fused Glass Ornament

• National Archives Store Exclusive
• Made in Oak Park, Illinois
• 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches
• Hand-screened onto layers of colorful sheet glass using fine enamels
• Each piece is unique and one of a kind. See photos for normal color variations

• Product Description

• The artisanal glass used to create our National Archives Building Ornament gives the illusion of seeing the majestic building from Pennsylvania Avenue on a partly cloudy night. And like clouds in the sky, no ornament is like the other, so yours will be unique to you!

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.