National Visitor Center (Washington, D.C.) Collection

The National Visitor Center (Washington, D.C.) Collection includes materials concerning the projected construction of the National Visitor Center at Union Station in Washington D.C. in the 1970s. The collection includes correspondence, records, images, memorabilia, maps, and architecture drawings of the center, which was open briefly from 1976 to 1978. This collection is organized into four series.

Series I: Documents includes materials from about 1972 to 1975, as well as some undated materials, likely from the same time period. This series contains paperwork relating to the development of the project: contracts, meeting notes, planning documents, materials from lawsuits, and Federal reference manuals. The first half of this series is arranged in chronological order. The second half, which includes the undated materials, is arranged by subject and folders are in alphabetical order by title.

Series II: Images contains photographs, negatives, and slides from construction, events held in the space, and a large framed photograph of a model. Although undated, they are most likely from the 1970s. This series is arranged by format and then by subject, if known.

Series III: Newspapers consists of whole papers and clippings from 1969-1977 that reference development, planning, construction, and the completed project. They come from a variety of newspapers. This series is arranged chronologically.

Series IV: Drawings, Plans, & Plats includes a range of architectural materials from 1972 to 1976. There are full and half-size drawings, architectural plans, and location plat maps. There are two full-size sets of prints, as well as a site plan and several specific sections/views. This series is arranged in chronological order.