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This is news 4 at 5 Later this week the National Archives will reopen its rotunda and put back on display some of the country's most historic documents The news media got a sneak preview today the renovation of the rotunda and the new display case took two years to complete And now they are ready for everyone to look at for the first time ever all four pages of the Constitution will be on display Permanently the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights also Showcase the public will start viewing the documents this Thursday the doors open at 10 a.m. I guess what they're permitting We need to say that about everything Well, I'll talk you and we'll show you an American treasure as you've never seen it before CBS evening news with Dan rather reporting from CBS News headquarters in New York The U.S. Constitution has withstood the test of time But the parchment on which it is written was in desperate need of restoration That has now been done and CBS's Wyatt Andrews shows you what we the people will soon be able to see at the National Archives This is the original true What they saw what they signed yes Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler of the National Archives recalls the moment with all the moment She picked up the actual United States Constitution to prepare its move to its new permanent case What is the Constitution? physically feel like well, it feels like a piece of skin which it is its parchment and It feels somewhat cool to the touch four years ago Experts determined that the founding documents of America the Constitution the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights Were degrading in their old cases what followed was among the most intense research projects facing the U.S. Government how to form a more perfect atmosphere to preserve the documents Indefinitely, they also had some help from folks at NASA from NASA The scientists concocted an atmosphere of argon gas at 40 percent humidity Sealed in a gilded titanium encasement over here. We're going to display original documents John Carlin the archivist of the United States says the documents themselves are Unretouched except where tiny chips of ink had come loose. There was a piece of ink that had fallen off If we could confirm where it fell off, but we could put it back On Thursday after a two-year absence all three founding documents go back on public display in Washington Perhaps forever all thanks to an army of archivists and scientists who mobilized literally to protect and defend the Constitution Wyatt Andrews CBS News Washington. You're watching NBC 4 working for you live from the area's leading news station This is news for today President Bush and the first lady will rededicate the National Archives rotunda today before it reopens to the public tomorrow The renovation of the rotunda and the new display cases that protect the country's most historic documents took two years to complete For the first time ever all four pages of the Constitution will be put on permanent display The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights will also be showcased The public can start viewing the documents tomorrow when the doors open at 10 in the morning weather permitting Maryland's and the district this is WUSA 9 news at 5 a.m Mike Andrea. All right Beverly. Thank you in other news America's founding documents are freshly cleaned Restored and ready for state-of-the-art display tomorrow the National Archives rotunda reopens after two years of renovations the Declaration of Independence the Bill of Rights and all four pages of the Constitution will just be displayed in a Titanium case filled with argon gas at 40 percent humidity and for the first time the new display cases will have Wheelchair access they will be around long after we're gone. It is six fifty-two And as the vice president was speaking you might have noticed briefly up on the screen We showed you the president what he's up to today He is actually also in Washington and there's the president leading the celebration today as The rotunda of the National Archives reopens after a two-year renovation project and the crown jewels You might say of this project or new display cases for the Declaration of Independence the Constitution and the Bill of Rights Remind you of some breaking news recovering out of Washington right now president Bush getting set to address several Individuals at the archives where they're going to look at that they're gonna unveil it's dark But they're gonna unveil the National Archives exhibit hall after a two-year renovation there Declaration of Independence Constitution of the United States Bill of Rights All these things for the first time all four pages in fact of the Constitution will be on continuous display Redidication of the hall contains 14 new document cases tracing the story of the creation of those charters And all those all those important documents are known as the charters of freedom So the president is there along with the first lady chief justice all the leaders Well, you know, it's got to be a big deal. They've got dash on Bush in the same room. Exactly. We'll continue to follow this We'll be back right after the break From the WJLA broadcast Center this is ABC 7 news at noon President Bush was on hand to rededicate the charters of freedom at the National Archives After a two-year renovation all four pages of the Constitution the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are on display The new cases will make them more accessible for young visitors and those using wheelchairs When Van the grab joins us Well, our nation's founding documents are back on public display now after two years of restoration President Bush led the unveiling of the new exhibit today at the National Archives in Washington The exhibit opens to the public tomorrow Those are your headlines at the south. You're watching NBC 4 working for you live from the area's leading news station This is news 4 at 5 Well, Isabelle or no Isabelle the renovated National Archives will open its doors tomorrow The museum plans to open on time and will hold the special ribbon cutting ceremony in the morning But evening outdoor activities are canceled The remodeled rotunda is opening for the first time in two years and features new display cases Containing the Constitution the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence This morning President Bush Chief Justice William Rinkwith and other dignitaries attended a ceremony to mark the Rededication of those historic documents tomorrow. It's the public's turn right now The museum plans to stay open until midnight, but that could change if Metro shuts down the museum will close We have had yet another We can once again get a close look at the original Constitution Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence the documents are back on public display after two years of preservation work President Bush and congressional leaders today celebrating their the rededication at the National Archives for the first time all four pages of the Constitution will be on display previously only the first and last pages were exhibited America owns the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution But the ideals they proclaim belong to all mankind Well the historic documents have been carefully restored They tell us flakes of the original ink that had begun to lift from the parchment were glued back in place with tiny drops of adhesive And now Some of the most important documents in US history are back on display in Washington the original Constitution Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence were returned to the newly renovated National Archives or TEMDA today All the documents are fresh from a two-year preservation project President Bush was on hand when the papers were rededicated this morning It is the first time all four pages of the Constitution are going on display previously just the first and last pages were on view President Bush and other dignitaries walked into the newly renovated Rotunda the National Archives building in Washington on Wednesday For ceremonies marking the return to public view of the nation's three founding documents Declaration of Independence US Constitution and the Bill of Rights Although we routinely speak of our countries and during Constitution It became clear years ago that the documents itself would not endure indefinitely without an upgrade of the way it was being displayed And so for the last two years experts at the National Archives meticulously cleaned the age-old parchment Even in some cases Resecured loose flakes of the original ink by using tiny drops of adhesive Restored just in time for the Constitution's 216th birthday The documents now rest securely in 24 karat gold-plated titanium frames Sealed in a mini atmosphere of inert argon gas that should preserve them for many years to come John Carlin the archivist of the United States says it is important that future generations be able to see the original documents Every day for all of us as American citizens. These are the foundation of our democracy the impact us They live and breathe today And once the doors were opened Americans came to take that precious look Thanks to modern science America's charters of freedom are as physically secure as they can be The rest is up to us Our Sunday passage for September 21st 2003 now time for the Novak zone the rotunda of the National Archives building in the nation's capital reopened this month after a major Renovation project here is Robert Novak with all of the details Welcome to the Novak zone We're in the little tundra of the National Archives in downtown Washington DC home of the charters of freedom the Declaration of Independence the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights with the senior curator of the National Archives Stacey Bradhoff miss Bradhoff that archives have been closed for more than two and two years It just reopened. What did you do during those that time that the archives were closed? Well for one thing we re-encased the charters of freedom. They're all in new state-of-the-art encasements The beautiful murals that you see here were taken down off the walls restored and put back And the exhibit cases were just made more accessible in many ways. How much did that cost? Well, it would cost over a hundred million dollars all together. And that's a government base for that mostly government and the and private funds also now I understand that the Declaration of Independence of the Constitution were Examined during this period that they were taken out. What did you find anything interesting about them? Well, the conservators found that they were in the Constitution particularly was an excellent condition It was very strong and in great condition The Declaration of Independence has had a harder history It's always been beloved and in its early years Of the of the nation it was rolled up and put in burlap sacks and hauled around throughout the Revolutionary War So it had a harder history, but it too was is stable and all of all of the charters are in good shape This beautiful building was built in 1931 in downtown Washington that that is in the middle of the Depression What do you how did that happen? Well there up until the 1930s there had been no National Archives And the records were not kept in any central place. So it was a priority at that time to establish a Record keeper for the United States and and that's what we are. What was here before the the Archives will build here and this part of this was a it's called market square and it was a public market This bird off there's so many things that to see in Washington for tourists the Capitol the White House I guess we go to the White House again the Smithsonian Institution, why would you come to the archives? Well, I think that the main experience here is to see the Charters of Freedom the original Declaration of Independence Constitution and Bill of Rights because even though we know what is written in them We can open up any textbook and see what's written in them There is a certain power just in being in the physical presence because the hands of the people that risk everything to get this nation started work touch those documents Do you have other documents here that? At the archives the National Archives has billions literally billions of paper documents Millions of photographs map Charts architectural drawings course electronic records motion pictures sound recordings So there's a huge volume of federal records I understand that maybe not here in this building because you have another building out in Maryland Yes, in College Park, Maryland. I understand there's the records of all the military who have served this country and they in the In the armed services, that's right. The National Archives has the military records Can a person just an ordinary citizen go out and see if there's a great-great-grandfather What kind of war record he had well as a matter of fact 80% of the researchers that come to the National Archives are Genealogists and they're looking for information about family members and This is the place to come for that how accessible is is this building and the place in College Park to Researchers can anybody just walk in or they have to be certified or what? You have to be 16 years of age and that is the only requirement to obtain a research card How many people come through here? Are you a year do you have anything like that? We get about a million visitors who come to the National Archives primarily to see the Chargers of Freedom And now the big question for stacey brethoff senior curator of the National Archives is brethoff I am fortunate enough to live right across the street from the archives Tell the truth and I get up in the morning And often get out on my deck and look at the beautiful building and there is a sign that if I put on my binoculars I can read it says what is past is prologue. Do you know what that means? Well, I think it means that it means that it's important to remember the past because it it has lessons for us all and this building is filled with records of the stories of United States history and there are lessons in it for everybody A president Eisenhower once said in a speech that that meant we ain't seen nothing yet You didn't have to get good Stacey brethoff. Thank you very much. Thank you very much and thank you for being in the know that's all If you ever went to washington dc on a school field trip chances are you went to the national archives But for the past two years that massive building as well as its historic documents have been closed to the public All undergoing renovation Stacey brethoff is the senior exhibit curator with the National Archives and she joins us now this morning from Washington. Good morning stacey. Good morning. It's a pretty exciting time for all of you lots of renovations talk to us about them I know there were renovations down in the building, but even more importantly on these documents Well, it is a very exciting time the documents were off display for two years and they're back now re-encased in a new state-of-the-art display The rotunda has been renovated the murals have been restored and The documents are just you know, they look really great And we're not talking about just any old documents here I mean these are the foundation upon which our country was made where the declaration of independence the constitution the bill of rights I understand that the constitution had been eaten by Insects how did you go about repairing some of that at the top of it? Well, actually the constitution was found to be an excellent condition There was a little bit evidence at the top of one of the pages of what the conservators call a lacing effect And that was evidence of damage by insects, but it was Repaired and barely you can barely see where it was now But also painstaking detail afforded to every single letter when you went over these documents talking about that I mean it was remarkable work. They had to do under a microscope, right? That's right. The documents had previously been sealed in these encasements for more than 50 years And when they were taken out the conservators examined them Microscopically letter by letter they were looking for Places where the ink may have lifted off of the parchment and they were able to repair Where that had happened. Yeah by literally lifting up the the ink, right and having some sort of special adhesive I mean it was very complicated. That's right. It was extremely painstaking work and it was done By professional conservators who work for the national archives. I'm told though the text upon which Particularly the Declaration of Independence was written was written on a certain kind of parchment paper that is going to allow it to last For quite some time. You don't worry about it actually just falling apart, right? Well, that's true. In fact, all of the charters are written on parchment, which is an animal scan, which is specially treated And it was the tradition English tradition to write legal documents on parchment because they are so long lasting All right, let's talk about where these documents are going to be encased right now What kind of things were built to keep them safely protected and how close can the public get to them? Well, it's very easy the public can come visit the national archives in washington dc And the documents the charters of freedom we call them are on permanent display there They uh, they are One major improvement in the display is that all four pages of the constitution can now be seen Whereas previously they were not What do you expect people are going to react to this? I mean when people come to the national archives and they see these things the building block of our country How do they look when they're looking at them? How do they feel when they leave you think? Well, I mean we've all we've known that people are extremely interested in these documents They've been on permanent display for more than 50 years at the national archives Millions and millions of people have come to see them. I think maybe now they have an even deeper appreciation For what they mean and just how important it is to preserve them. Well, I can't wait to come and get a first-hand look myself And thank you so much for being with us this morning. Thank you breath hop senior diva curator with the national archives Well after more than two years of restoration the charters of freedom are back on display at the national archives in washington The declaration of independence the u.s. Constitution and the bill of rights have been given a high-tech facelift of sorts and new argon-infused display cases to ensure their longevity Joining us today to tell us a bit about the restoration is katharine nickelson senior conservator for the national archives katharine. Welcome Hello, Sophia. So Let me just get this straight these documents needed to be restored. Why because they were already in like protective, you know Glass in cases weren't they? That's right. They had been encased in about 1951 And they were metal and glass enclosures, but they were they represented state of the art in 1951 and actually they had Features that we thought were going to detract from the long-term stability of the documents there was glass resting right on the parchment and We were concerned we could look through the glass we could see what was going on But we actually couldn't monitor them directly We decided we had an opportunity with the renovation of the rotunda to actually work on them for two years We had them off display and we were able to open each of the 1950s encasements Take the documents out it inspects them directly for the first time in 50 or actually probably a hundred years for some of the items Determine if there were any needs for treatment and actually get The go ahead to carry out those treatments before they were sealed in new encasements The new encasements are much larger and they're they're much more spacious. There's no glass directly on the parchment Well, given that space of time that span 50 years Were you surprised at how well they held up or were they in pretty desperate need? Well, actually I'm really happy to say that they are actually in very stable condition The parchment is quite strong The ink is Except on the declaration still quite legible Our concern was to make sure that the ink that is present on the parchment will last as long as possible And so quite a bit of our treatment focused on feeding ink underneath any lifting flakes of ink We did you can see there their little Spots where flakes have come off in previous decades probably previous centuries So we we re-adhered the ink of with very very small droplets of ink applied under a binocular microscope And there you can see we're looking through the microscope to examine the ink And these are the words on the Declaration of Independence written on the back of the document The other thing that we carried out on the constitution in particular the the parchment was not flat And so we humidified and flattened the parchment I also understand that you put like ink on tape and then transferred it onto the document Actually, no Our we took a very very conservative approach We looked for any ink that might have come off and might have been inside those old encasements When we opened each one we looked very very carefully We actually did not find any loose flakes of ink the only ink we worked on was ink that was already It was lifting off the parchment but still attached So we were reattaching ink in its original location But we would you simply couldn't tell where any loose flake might have come from and actually we didn't find any loose flakes Understood now. I know you just described the intricate processes that you that you encountered We know it took two years for this restoration project. How much did it cost? The the cost there are many many people who worked on this project The the cost of making the new encasements Was probably more than a million dollars. We had some foundation money for that The actual conservation treatments was carried out as part of our Normal duties and so that was somewhat absorbed. All right, Catherine Nicholson. Thank you so much for joining us Catherine is a senior conservator for the national archive. Thanks again. Thank you Oh, awesome. We're to come right to do and what you need to know Holly. Okay, Sean take a look at that That is the declaration of independence and you haven't been able to see that in over two years That's because the national archive has been undergoing renovation We're here live this morning as they open to the public this week But they're allowing us to give you the first look at the old document We're going to tell you what's all new coming up live next to fox on morning news. Stay with us Archives rotunda has been closed for renovation since july 5th 2001 and two years ago, but today we get an exclusive tour before the public gets to see the results Bossas holly moor's is live in north west was more than this grand preview. Holly. Very exciting It is very exciting and grand is definitely the appropriate word lark because we're talking about of course the grandest documents In our nation's history and we are indeed talking about a grand renovation to the tune of a hundred million dollars Stacey breadhop is the senior curator. She joins me in the rotunda this morning and it's an exciting day It's very exciting. It is. We thank you so much for letting us get this first look at these documents Why was it so needed this renovation because I know you know a million people a year come and visit the archives So it was a big decision to close it down It was um, there were two things really driving the renovation The first is that the Charters of Freedoms the decoration of independence the constitution and bill of rights had been in these encasements for About 50 years and they needed to come out and get into new encasement So that was one reason and the other was that this building is uh 60 years old and it just needed a lot of Updating we have some pictures from when the documents were lowered for the last time and and it is kind of twofold because The documents had to be cleaned correct. That's right They uh, they were taken out of those encasements where they've been sealed for almost the half a century They were cleaned and a few uh Pares were amended and they were put back in the a new state of the art These new encasements. So let's talk about the new encasements because the second part of this is the new house I guess for these precious documents. You're looking there at the declaration of independence Tell us what's new and different the first thing I notice is the tilting of the cases Well, first of all, uh visitors can now get closer to the document and they can have a much clearer look to the glass The documents are not, uh, touched by anything except this very high quality cellulose paper underneath So they're a lot safer and and the visitors can get a lot closer And one of the things you were talking about as we move on over to the constitution Is about the glass not touching the paper because before the glass was touching the paper and that's really a big difference It is and another really major difference is that previously There was only room to exhibit two pages of the constitution now for the first time ever We're showing the entire constitution all four pages Uh on permanent display. So you're seeing all four pages in addition You have some other exciting documents like the letter that George Washington wrote prior to the constitution. That's right. We have Well, we have this new exhibit that really tells the story of the charters A lot of the changes that you see in here were to make the charters more accessible physically And we have this exhibit in these other 14 cases that really tell the story of of why they're important We also want to talk a little bit about the magnificent murals here because that was also part of the restoration process So tell me what they had to do there. That's right. Well, they came and they took these huge murals that you see They took them off the wall Which was a big undertaking they weigh about 350 pounds each and they were taken out of the building They were restored um and put back and now they're uh, you know in all their splendor And also, uh, there's new visitors that I understand. That's right. Well, this is the first phase of the reopening The uh, we'll be greeting people back into the rotunda beginning on thursday and that's just the first phase of new Uh, the whole variety of public spaces and public programming that that we're starting What's the feel that you want people to get when they come into the rotunda and they actually see these documents? Well, I think because it's a very monumental space people know they come in here and and they're going to be seeing something important And what we would like to do is to tell people the story To let them know that these you know towering figures that you see in these murals were actually real people And they were acting in the real world and they worked uh struggled to create a government based on certain ideas and ideals and uh against great odds And it's the force of these ideals of freedom and equality that really engendered the birth of the nation And uh has sustained the nation what I was reading an article about it Is it fair to say that it is possible and or probable that these documents don't ever have to be touched by human hands? Again for another hundred years. Well, that that's the hope is that they won't they won't be We don't need to get at them for another hundred years But they were designed so that if there is a need to to get into the cases that it can be done Daisy, thank you so much for giving us the first look this morning. We really do appreciate it We understand the excitement to say the least and because it is such an exciting time The archives is having special hours Thursday is when it actually opens to the public those special hours run thursday through saturday ten a.m Until midnight then sunday ten until five thirty coming up in our next hour We're going to learn more about some of the new things here at the national archives back to you Thanks, holly We'll still ahead this morning some disappointing this morning. Howlingworth has found her way into the newly reopened national archives Good morning, holly. I found my way in but I swear It's all legit security standing close by as we are indeed looking at the top documents that help shape our nation We're talking about the charters of freedom. They are now being seen once again after the archives has finished It's massive renovation coming up. So there are other documents that are very important to our history How you can engage in a historical debate live max from five morning. Stay with us Is reopening with the charters of freedom on display for the first time in more than two years But there's more to see and do at the national archives too But five holly moors is live inside this morning with more on the big vote. Howlly, what does that mean? Well, you know, I think I read in one of these documents here that we all have the right to vote And this is a vote that you definitely are going to want to be involved in first So, you know, I never get tired of looking at these amazing documents when you sit here and think Okay, that's the actual declaration of independence the actual one that thomas jepperson held in his hands It really indeed is amazing. John carlin is an archivist and he joins me. Do you ever get tired of looking at? Never These documents are so important for us today and in regard to our democracy impact is every day It's not just looking at old documents. These are live and well today They are indeed live and well and you guys are keeping them even more alive by kind of engaging the nation in a debate Okay, my first question we're trying to figure out the top 10 most influential documents in our history That's right. We're gonna with the help of us news and working with national history day have a people's vote Uh, we're going to put out a hundred documents They can write in if they don't like the hundred that we put out to to vote on and give people an Opportunity to pick out the top 10. What are the 10 most important records that have influenced this country? And in certain locations you have these special kiosks. We'll have special kiosks in many locations, but for most internet access us.com us news.com will take care of it And uh, people will have a chance to really participate. I guess it would be fair to say that the top three are here I think they'll come out. I think so So we're really choosing seven, right? Well, but we're going to give people a chance I mean if they think one of the amendments to the constitution is more important than the original constitution That'd be a possibility. Okay, if we're even talking about the top spot Would it be the Declaration of Independence or the constitution that you think was the most influential? Well, Holly, I think it's going to be the constitution my guess is because just for an example the recall decision that was made yesterday by a federal court uh, uh court in uh, california It's linked to this document right here. We're standing by and you know, there's things that you always learn here We just saw the bill of rights over there and we always think of the bill of rights in terms of 10 But there's 12 listed there. There's 12, but the first two never passed So what were the first two they dealt with reapportionment and congressional salaries And the second salaries was dealt with in 1992. It was the 27th amendment to the constitution. You never stop learning You never stop learning You know, I said, I thought you know everything as we take a look at the four pages of the constitution the first time that we've been able to Do that. Um, what are some of the other documents that you think will rank among the top 10? Well, there's a possibility that lee resolution for an example which preceded the declaration When they actually voted to make the decision, it wasn't a document that's gotten all the publicity That's one possibility, but uh, it'll be interesting anticipation proclamation, I think we'll get a a lot of votes, but You know, we're not trying to steer the people. I want the people that's We're going to have paper ballots that uh, we're going to be handing out and you know a lot of people Most people go online Well, one thing I want to make sure I get in because when you and I first talked which we talked two years ago When you close down we were here on the last day One of the biggest differences that you'll notice is You don't have to climb those 39 steps. And yes, I did count this morning. You did. Okay To come in you're going to go in on the first level. That's right And and then you have the opportunity to come up a grand staircase or use elevators ADA compliance And you're kind of the renovation and you guys are having a bunch of events all weekend long. Yes, we are We're celebrating starting on thursday. We open to the public at 10 o'clock We'll have we're going to stay open on midnight thursday friday saturday night It could be a little wet during some of that But the weekend sounds great and we certainly want the people to come out and enjoy well, thank you and pick up a ballot And vote well, we we sure have enjoyed this morning to say the least I want to say congratulations We were here two years ago. You said it would take two years. I appreciate you coming back We're back here and tomorrow's constitution day, right? That's right. All right very good So it's the best day to come out and see the competition Take advantage of the archives archives.gov is the website so you can check out all the things they have going on here all the time Back to you guys sounds exciting. I can't wait. Kelly. Thank you very much. We'll have a final check on weather when we come back