Abstract: An apparatus for providing access control and video surveillance at an access control point comprises an access control memory portion, a data processing portion, a camera input/output portion, and an event history memory portion. The access control memory portion is operative to store data indicative of who may properly enter past the access control point. The data processing portion controls who enters past the access control point in accordance with the data stored in the access control memory portion. The camera input/output portion is operative to receive data from a video camera. Finally, the event history memory portion is operative to store access data indicative of who entered past the access control point and to store video data generated by the video camera. The access control memory portion, the data processing portion, the camera input/output portion, and the event history memory portion are in signal communication with one another in the apparatus.