What to See in Washington's Library of Congress
Largest Library Houses More than Just Books
Aug 29, 2008
History of the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress, which is made up of three buildings located in Washington, D.C., was established in 1800 to serve the research needs of the U.S. Congress. At the time of its inception, it was housed in the Capitol Building, but in 1897, was moved to what is now known as the Thomas Jefferson Building. The other two buildings housing the Library of Congress include the John Adams Building, which was completed in 1939, and the James Madison Memorial Building, which was completed in 1980.
World's Largest Collection of Materials
There's much to see in the Library of Congress, but first and foremost it is famous for being the world's largest library, with a collection of more than 32 million catalogued books and other print materials in 470 languages. It also houses more than 61 million manuscripts, the largest rare collection of books in North America, including a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, a Gutenberg Bible, over 1 million U.S. government publications, 1 million issues of world newspapers spanning three centuries, and much, much more.
Take a Guided Tour
To get a real feel for the Library of Congress, it's best to sign up for a docent-led tour. Tours are offered in the Thomas Jefferson Building throughout the week and on Saturdays. Go to the Library of Congress website to obtain specific times. The Great Hall is perhaps the most impressive part of the Thomas Jefferson Building, known as one of the country's most distinguised accomplishments in architecture. Constructed of white Italian marble, its ceiling rises 75 feet above the floor and it is decorated with stained glass skylights.
Other notable attractions include the Main Reading Room, which contains a domed ceiling that stretches 160 feet above the floor. The dozen or so 10-foot-high figures at the apex of the dome represent the countries that contributed to the development of Western civilization. Stained glass representations of the seals of 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) are also visible in this room.
Other Interesting Things to See in The Library of Congress
“American Treasures,” a rotating exhibition of 300 of the most historic and treasured materials in the library, includes the “Bob Hope Gallery of Entertainment” featuring Mr. Hope’s memorabilia, film and sound clips, and the late comedian’s 85,000-page “Joke File.” Another exhibition, called “Here to Stay,” highlights the legacy of songwriters George and Ira Gershwin. See the Calendar of Events for dates and times of exhibitions. Free concerts, film screenings, lectures, poetry readings, and other events are also listed in the Calendar.
