National Archives Painted Glass Ball Ornament

• National Archives Store Exclusive
• Handmade
• Gift boxed

• With the kind of unique details that come with an entirely handmade work of art, this ornament is a very special souvenir of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Using miniature curved brushes, the artist paints every detail on the inside of this hand-blown glass ornament, a process that usually takes two days. No two ornaments are the same, making it the perfect keepsake to display every holiday season. 

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.