National Archives
archives.gov
The official repository of US federal government records, providing public access to historical documents, photographs, military records, and legislative materials.
Why it is useful
The only authoritative source for US federal government primary sources — everything from the original Constitution to declassified intelligence files. For genealogists, historians, and journalists, the military records and immigration files alone are worth the visit. Digitization is ongoing, and the catalog grows substantially each year.
More in Archives
Other archives you might not have heard of.
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- Public Domain ReviewAn online journal dedicated to the exploration of curious and captivating works from the history of art, literature, and ideas that have entered the public domain.
- The Old NetA proxy that fetches archived websites through period-accurate browser rendering, letting you browse the web as it looked in any year between 1990 and 2020 — with original fonts, colors, and broken image placeholders.
- FreesoundA collaborative database of audio samples, recordings, and sound effects uploaded by contributors worldwide and licensed for free use.
- Chronicling AmericaLibrary of Congress archive of digitized historic American newspapers from 1770 to 1963.
- Open LibraryInternet Archive project cataloging every book ever published with borrowable digital copies of millions.