Atlas Obscura has an article about the original bomb-proof safe that kept the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence safe from attack. I wish as much care would be given to the actual meaning of these documents, too, but it is awfully easy to confuse the menu with the meal.
The original, 55-ton Mosler Vault was the size of walk-in closet and employed a 20-foot scissor jack to raise and lower the Charters of Freedom. A 1953 documentary shows the lift in operation here. The Mosler Vault was replaced in the early 2000s as the National Archive underwent a major $110 million renovation. The current vault, designed by Diebold, is still shrouded in secrecy.
