Synopsis

Historian and treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates pursues a legendary fortune supposedly hidden by the Knights Templar and protected by generations of American leaders. When a ruthless rival learns of the secret, Gates discovers that the next clue is concealed on the Declaration of Independence. He and his allies must steal the revered document, decode its message, and stay ahead of both criminals and the FBI.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was released by Walt Disney Pictures on November 19, 2004, and became the first entry in a film franchise that continued with National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007.

• Production used numerous real American landmarks, including Independence Hall, the National Archives Building, the Library of Congress, the Lincoln Memorial, and the USS Intrepid.

• The production filmed inside the tower of Philadelphia's Independence Hall, marking the first time that area had been used in a film.

• The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial had been drained for maintenance during filming, so the water was added digitally afterward.

• The Declaration of Independence really does contain writing on its reverse side. The inscription identifies the document as the original Declaration dated July 4, 1776, although the movie turns this historical detail into a central clue.

• Because renovations limited access to parts of the National Archives, the filmmakers constructed detailed sets based on the building's interiors.

• The movie's characters use names connected to American history. Benjamin, Patrick, and John Gates reflect Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and John Adams, while Abigail Chase combines associations with Abigail Adams and Samuel Chase.