Many AHA members have expressed alarm about a post on the National Archives website regarding restricted access to Archives II in College Park, Maryland. In a message on X (formerly Twitter), which we have reproduced below, the Archives has clarified that research rooms will remain open to the public. At present, this statement does not appear to have been published on NARA’s website. The AHA will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as they become available.
In some cases, our updates will be delayed by our commitment to confirmation from reliable sources.
NARA post on X, June 25, 2025
June 25, 2025
We caused a misunderstanding yesterday in the way we communicated long overdue enhanced security standards that are going into effect at the National Archives at College Park, M.D.
First things first: For those who want to come to College Park and look through the records, the research rooms were, are and will ALWAYS remain open to the public. Ensuring public access to records in the archives is part of NARA’s core mission and the new security standards do not – and would never- change this.
The National Archives is implementing long overdue enhanced security standards at College Park due to several recent incidents that have left those in the building-including researchers- and our nation’s records vulnerable to threats. In addition to other measures, NARA is increasing video surveillance and mandating that traffic bollards stay up closer to the building.
Many of these measures mirror security standards that have been in place for many years at the research rooms at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and research facilities at presidential libraries.
We look forward to continuing to always welcome researchers to College Park.
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Original NARA Website Announcement (removed on June 24, 2025)
The National Archives at College Park, Maryland
Restricted-Access Federal Facility, Effective July 7, 2025
Effective July 7, 2025, the National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted-access federal facility with access only for visitors with a legitimate business need. It will no longer be open to the general public. Security officers will enforce these restrictions, and your cooperation is appreciated.