Rick, nice video and thanks for sharing!

If anyone does use the subways there is probably something worth noting and it's the escalators. It is an unwritten rule that you use the right hand side as the left hand side is used for running. You might get shoved after a verbal warning. You will see person after person running by you if your standing on the right hand side.

Also you may only pull four CMSR's or pension records at one pull. So if you pull two 2 pension records and want to pull two CMSR's you have used your four for that particular pull. Since there are 6 pulls that is a total of 24 per day. They will hold them for three days unless you tell them otherwise. You will not be able to pull Confederate CMSR's as they will tell you they are on fold 3. The computers at the archives do have free access to fold 3 as well as ancestry. As you look at this post fold 3 is in the process of copying pension records however they are Union widows pensions. If fold 3 has the pensions you want you're out of luck. Fold 3 comes first. Insofar as the finding aid room you may also pull four records from their side at one pull and it will not be counted against you on the other side. Both sides require that a National Archives employee sign off on the pull slips.

When pulling a pension record if the number has 7 numbers they will ask you to go their computer and go to ancestry to find the XC number at the bottom of the page. If they have six numbers or less then you will have no problem. Also the National Archives employee will have to sign off on your pull. Don't just leave them in the pull box as they will not be pulled until they have okayed the pull slip. The result will be you will be waiting for you records and they will never come.

There are no dollar bill changers at the National Archives.

I've not done it but you could buy a frozen package of hot dogs and buns and place them in your locker and you would have access to the microwave in the restaurant downstairs and they of course have free condiments. Guess I'm a tight-wad. LOL

If you do elect to use the parking garage across the street the height is only 6'2"

The people at the finding aid room are nice and professional however they tend to give you more than what you need. You don't need extra material you may not want as it takes time to go through it. Don't be afraid to speak up and say No thank you I don't need that. Many records at the finding aid room are record groups 92 and 109.

Some of the microfilm machines will take flash drive. The microfilm machines are of many different types including the old reel variety.

Like anywhere else there are some people who know more than others. Currently at the National Archives it is Trevor P. in my opinion. He is absolutely amazing in his knowledge. However if you ask to speak to him others will ask you what your question is and they seem to try and protect him as much as possible. Last week was perhaps the first time I did not have a question for him. He saw me coming toward him and was bracing for a question and I said a lot of snow today. He grinned and said yes there is. I could tell he was relived. LOL Some of my questions are fairly difficult sometimes even for Trevor but he has always come through.

It's only happened to me once but I believe I was the first to review some records pertaining to the WBTS. Crushed rose pedals were falling from the pages of the large book and dark red stains were found what I thought could have been blood. Even the employees were noting it probably had not been opened since the close of the war. The records will never all be put online in our lifetime as there are just too many.