In Washington: visiting the National Archives and spending evenings at the Natural History Museum

They are housed in the Rotunda of the building that houses the National Archives: the Founding Documents, known as the ‘Charter of Liberty’, lay down the principles of the United States and have inspired the American people for almost 250 years. During the same visit, you can also see up close the Faulkner murals that adorn the curved walls of the Rotunda. They were painted by Barry Faulkner between 1935 and 1936 to artistically depict fictional scenes from the presentation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They hold the record for being the largest single-panel oil-on-canvas murals in the United States; indeed, their dimensions are equivalent to those of a city bus (4.27 metres by 11.44 metres). This neoclassical building, dating from 1931 – designed by architect John Russell Pope, who also designed the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art – houses documents that directly influence the lives of millions of people. By submitting a request to the Italian Embassy, you can follow the procedure to take part in a tour of the White House. It’s even easier to explore the new Geographic Museum of Exploration (opening on 26 June): the history of geography is brought to life through innovative technologies, immersive displays and iconic photographs. A must-see for children is taking part in the ‘Sleepover’ events organised throughout the summer by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington: children, accompanied by a limited number of adults, can take part in evening events and sleep in the lobby of the world’s most fascinating natural history institution.