The following press release discusses the new hours for the National Archives in Washington, D.C. 

Washington, DC. . . A final rule published in the Federal Register today amends the hours at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and at the National Archives facility in College Park, MD.  The new hours affect both the museum side of the National Archives Building and the research side of both facilities.  This rule will become effective on Monday, October 2, 2006. 

The new research hours are:  Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Once a month, the National Archives will have extended hours to accommodate researchers who seek evening and Saturday hours.  The monthly extended hours are:  Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., and Saturday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.  The first extended hours will be held October 19 through 21.  New signs have been posted in the research rooms at the Washington, DC and College Park, MD facilities.  The new hours are posted online at:  www.archives.gov/research/, including the specific dates for extended hours in FY 2007. 

The new museum hours are:  10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the spring and summer (March 15 through Labor Day).  Fall and winter hours (the day after Labor Day through March 14) will remain unchanged: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  These changes affect (except for special events) the Rotunda, the Public Vaults, the O’Brien Gallery, the Archives Shop, and the McGowan Theater, when it reopens.  The museum will close on Thanksgiving Day, in addition to December 25.

The National Archives regional archives around the country will continue to operate during core hours, but will modify their extended hours, effective October 2. For more information, go to www.archives.gov/locations/regional-archives.html.

To see the final rule, go to: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov
/2006/06-8338.htm

To see the interim rule, go to:
http://www.archives.gov/comment/hours-rule.pdf