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VB Newsroom -- National Archives

National Archives Project
Bronze frames cast at the foundry in Joseph, Oregon surround the Declaration of Independence, and will soon surround the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.

Cases for the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights will be the first installed this year. In addition to fabricating the bronze frames, Valley Bronze is assemblling the newly designed tops of the bulletproof cases, and fitting and testing hinges and lifting mechanisms at the foundry prior to transporting and installing the work in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives Building. The project also includes casting, fitting, and installing bronze frames around the cases holding the American Originals documents that line the walls of the Rotunda in the National Archives.

April 2007 -- Declaration of Independence case installed at National Archives

The finished case that will hold the Declaration of Independence sits in the rotunda of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. The case was installed in March. A similar case for the Bill of Rights is currently being installed.

A closeup of the case's corner. The medallion is cast separately and inserted into the frame.