Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Federal currency production facility in National Mall, United States
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the main production site for American paper currency and manufactures millions of banknotes daily using specialized printing techniques. The building sits in the government district near the National Mall and houses large production floors with printing presses, cutting machines, and inspection stations for quality control.
The institution started operations in 1862 during the Civil War when the federal government needed its own facility for printing national paper currency. The current building was constructed in several phases beginning in the 1880s and was later expanded to meet growing demand.
During guided visits, guests watch the printing presses in action and learn how security features like watermarks and security threads are added to each bill. The explanations reveal the role that craftsmanship and technology play in making money that changes hands millions of times every day.
Free public tours take place on weekdays and begin at the entrance on 14th Street and C Street Southwest. Visitor groups follow a set route through galleries with glass windows overlooking the production areas, with the tour lasting around 40 minutes.
The paper used is made from cotton and linen fibers rather than wood, which makes the banknotes more durable and able to stay in circulation longer. This special composition also gives the bills their characteristic texture, which feels noticeably different from ordinary paper.
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