We happened past this National Archives facility as we walked along Chestnut Street, headed for the Franklin Institute Science Museum. The sign sounded inviting, so we stopped in to see the exhibit gallery, which includes a display of historical information about the U.S.S. Olympia and some examples of the types of research that can be accomplished using the archives.

This facility contains 56,000 cubic feet of archival records, including paper documents, photographs, maps, and architectural drawings, dating from 1789 to 1980s. These court, civilian, and military archival records were created or received by nearly 80 Federal agencies and the Federal courts in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Subjects covered include the region's lighthouses, landmark Federal court cases, railroads, school desegregation, Chinese exclusion acts, fugitive slave laws, national parks and historic sites, merchant marines, violations of Federal laws such as tax evasion and smuggling, and the work of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The facility is open to the public and can be used e.g., for family history/genealogical research

Hours

The Archive is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Second Saturday each month, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Closed Sundays and Federal holidays.

You will need to present valid ID to enter, and backpacks and bags must be stored in lockers near the entrance.  No photgraphs are permitted inside the facility.

Fees

The facility is free to the public.

Travel Directions

The facility is located on the ground level of the Nix Federal Building. Even though the address is given as Market St, The entrance to the Archives is on the Chestnut Street side of the building, between 9th and 10th Streets.

Last updated:

2007-04-17 22:33:24