The recently flooded National Archives is closed but still active, hosting some neat events on this, our nation’s birthday. Earlier this morning, a crowd of sweaty people gathered at the Archives to hear historical figures (or at least their reenactors) read the Declaration of Independence. Announced by a town crier, the historical impersonators of the documents’ framers, Thomas Jefferson (suitably fire-haired), Ben Franklin, and John Adams, as well as two injured Iraq war soldiers and the National Archivist, read our nation’s break with England.

Just like in the history of the document, Jefferson played a key role in the event – he read a long section and paused for effect at the “imposing taxes on us without our Consent” line, drawing cheers from the crowd. And a touching part of the event was when one of the soldiers, who had suffered a stroke but still wanted to participate, read his portion with the help of Jefferson. The Archvist, Allan Weinstein, called it one of the most eloquent readings he had heard, and said that George Washington would have been proud to have the soldier (whose named we did not catch, unfortunately).

And today until 4 p.m., family event tents are set up on the Mall, where among other things, visitors can meet and greet the above figures and others, including Susan B. Anthony and George Mason – we wonder how many questions he’ll get about the basketball team.