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National Treasure
In Washington, D.C., a four-page document is protected 24 hours a day. It is locked inside special cases made of thick metal and glass. At night, it is moved to a secret location.
Why go to all this trouble? Because that document is the U.S. Constitution! It is one of our country’s most important documents. It explains how our national government is set up.
National Archives
The United States officially gained its freedom from Great Britain in 1783. Soon after, leaders of the new nation set out to create a strong government. In 1787, they spent nearly four months writing the Constitution. The final text was written by hand on a material called parchment. Parchment is made from animal skin.
Today the Constitution is on display at the National Archives. The document is very fragile. Too much light can make the ink fade. Contact with the air can damage the parchment. The special cases protect the Constitution from these dangers. They also keep it safe from a fire or flood.
Jessie Kratz works at the National Archives. She says the safety measures ensure that people will be able to see the Constitution for years to come.
“It is one of our most treasured documents,” Kratz explains. “We want to keep it as safe as possible.”
More than 1 million people view the Constitution at the National Archives each year.
1. Why is the U.S. Constitution considered one of our country’s most important documents?
2. What clues in the article help you understand the meaning of the word fragile?
3. Describe two steps the National Archives takes to protect the Constitution.
