private tour library of congress

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Private Capitol Hill Walking Tour: VIP Political Exploration

Indulge in exclusive insights into dc's political landscape privately.

• Babylon Tours Washington D.C.

From $69

Discover more about this tour

Visit the beating heart of Washington DC where two of the three branches of the United States government meet. This tour includes the stunning exteriors of the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Capitol. Walk the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Central Park in New York City. Go inside the Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress designed as a temple of knowledge (and to prove the United States understood Art, Culture, and Sophistication as well as any country in Europe.) While there check out a real Gutenberg Bible, this copy is one of only four complete Gutenberg Bibles printed on vellum, in the world. You will also learn about Thomas Jefferson’s love of books and how his collection became the seed from which the world’s largest library grew. Learn about the judicial system within the elegant marble halls at the Museum of the Supreme Court, and maybe get a peek inside the actual courtroom. Your guide will end the tour providing access passes (and information about security protocols) for the visitor’s galleries of the current chambers for the House of Representatives and or the Senate, to be seen at your leisure.

NOTE: Tour of the Capitol Building NOT INCLUDED. We do provide entry passes House & Senate at the end of the tour (unguided)

Highlights generally include: (but not limited to )

Exterior of the Capitol

Exterior of the Supreme Court

Museum of the Supreme Court

Possible viewing of the Courtroom

View of the Main Reading Room of Library of Congress

Gutenberg Bible

Thomas Jefferson’s library

Statue of Freedom

“Private Tour” means tour guide exclusively for you.

“Semi-Private” means group size is never more than 8 guests maximum.

Prices Vary Based on Group Size

• Adult $69 - 552 18 years of age or older
• Youth $19 Between 10 - 17 years of age
• Child $9 Between 0 - 9 years of age

Aaron was our guide and he was wonderful! He had so much knowledge to share as well as incidental details to throw in that made it that much more enjoyable. During the tour he asked if we would prefer to see the Supreme Court or Library of Congress and ended up showing us both of them. That was wonderful for us because we had a tour scheduled for the Library of Congress the next day which freed us to schedule something else during that time. He was very willing to take pictures for us and was the perfect gentleman. We REALLY enjoyed his tour!

We went to New York in November with Babylon City Tours & w loved it so much we had to try it again! We took a trip in December and Aaron was our guide, he made things so much fun and memorable! Can't wait to try all their European tours next!

5 Tips for Visiting the Library of Congress in Washington DC

The Largest Library in the World is non-other than the Library of Congress in Washington DC. Never in my life had I ever said, I need to go there. That was until I stepped foot through the doors.

After visiting the Library of Congress nothing will ever compare to the experience. It has more art, sculptures, and script in one room than I have seen. And that was all without seeing a single book.

The history inside the doors could rival the White House , Smithsonians , and the National Archives put together. It contains the best parts of Washington DC wrapped up all in one location.

I left with just one impression, Everyone Need To Visit the Library of Congress in Washington DC.

What is the Library of Congress?

The Library houses more than 167 million items in 470 different languages. That includes 38 million books, 3.6 million recordings, 14 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 8.1 million pieces of sheet music, and 70 million manuscripts.

It doesn’t contain every book published but that’s still an impressive collection. The Library of Congress is so big, that the books are housed in three different buildings in Washington D.C. and another annex in Virginia. 

The buildings are called the Thomas Jefferson Building, James Madison Memorial Building and the John Adams Building. The most visited one, located directly behind the US Capitol, and it the Thomas Jefferson Building.

There are tunnels in between the buildings, along with a tunnel to the US Capitol.

The library was first established in 1800 by President John Adams. He wanted to build a collection of books ‘as may be necessary for the use of Congress’. The initial collection of books was in the Capitol building.

In 1814 when the British invaded and burned down the building books and all. The library needed to be rebuilt. President Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his personal collection of books to refill the library’s collection.

Why would you want to visit a library on vacation?

Most of the time when you go to a library it’s to borrow a book or other material at a library. The majority of visitors to the Library of Congress go to view the library and the collection inside. From floor to ceiling there the place is impeccably designed.

As someone who can easily spend an hour in Barns and Noble or my local library browsing, the titles at the Library of Congress was amazing.

The only disappointing part was there only a few books you can get close to while visiting the Library of Congress. The only exception was the Thomas Jefferson Collection.

Can you walk into the Library of Congress?

Yes, anyone can walk into the Library of Congress. You’ll get access the main area of the library. In order to brows the library books, you’ll need to make advanced reservations.

Is the Library of Congress free to visit?

Yes, the Library of Congress if free of charge.

Can anyone access the Library of Congress?

Yes, visiting the Library of Congress is like many other places in DC, where you can walk right in. No tickets are necessary. Inside you’ll be able o walk around, and view the exhibits, architecture, and more.

The only thing you can’t do is go inside the main bookroom. In order to go inside there, you’ll need to get special permission. If you plan on doing some research, you’ll need to contact the library in advance, and they will assist you.

The Thomas Jefferson Building

The main library is a show piece. From the great hall to the grand ceiling. Throughout the building you’ll see intricate carvings and artwork. It is a mix of an art and architecture with a bit of history and a few books! Ok, a lot of books. There is an immense collection of books.

The Thomas Jefferson Collection

Thomas Jefferson’s exhibition holds a collection of books. It is in a separate area behind a glass display case. Sections of books are being digitized for online use.

His collection is vast. He collected works on poetry, philosophy, government, and everything in between. What’s amazing is what is on display is only a part of his collection.

Almost two-thirds of the 6,487 books were lost in the second fire in 1851. The library has created an amazing tribute to his collection.

The Gutenberg Bible

The Library of Congress is one of a handful of places in the US where you can view a Guttenberg Bible.

The Guttenberg Bible actually wasn’t the first printed book with a metal movable typeface but it is the first one to use the technique in Western Europe.

The last time one was sold, it went for 5.5 million in 1987. When Guttenberg first started printing in the early 1450s, he made 180 bibles.

Only 49 bibles survive today and are scattered around the world with a few around the United States.

The Bible is on display in the library on the first floor near the entrance. It is only one of four that were printed on vellum.

Other Collections

In addition to some staples, there are other rotating collections at the Library of Congress.

When we were there, they had a ‘Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote and Mapping a Growing Nation, featuring how our nation was shaped. To me, it was almost like being in a wing of the Smithsonian or the National Archives.

They also had on display a collection of artifacts from Baseball throughout history. My favorite was the original uniforms from the Rockford Peaches All American Girls Professional Baseball team.

Make sure to stop into at least one of the Smithsonian’s while in Washington DC. There are a ton and they are all free! Click here to find out more .

Can you walk into the Library of Congress Rooms?

Visiting the Library of Congress, the books stay on the premises. If you need to do research, you have to obtain a reader card. Then you’ll get to enter the reading rooms.

A librarian will get the materials off the shelf for you. Depending on how rare the book is, you may or may not be able to touch it.

The main reading room is available to view on the first floor. There is also a main reading room overlook on the Third Floor. They ask that you keep your voices down for those studying.

Tips to Plan Your Visit to the Library of Congress

Get to the library early or reserve tickets.

Visiting the Library of Congress was more popular than I imagined it would be. I ended up going on a whim. The Library is located behind the State Capitol.

It doesn’t come near the crowds of the Smithsonian’s but still, it was an effort just to get through the doors, complete with their own security protocols.

Get there early in the day. The Thomas Jefferson building is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with extended hours on Thursday.

There are a limited number of same-day passes are made available at 9 a.m. Save yourself the hassle and get a free timed entry pass .

Security is right at the front door, with no inside waiting. If a line starts to form, you’ll be waiting outside the doors exposed to the elements. Be prepared.

How long do you need to tour Library of Congress?

The Library of Congress tours are free of the Thomas Jefferson Building every hour starting at 10:30. Each tour lasts 1 hour long. Tours start at the ground floor information desk. They recommend you get there about 20 minutes prior to the tour start because the group tours fill up fast.

You can also do a self-guided tour inside the library.

If you want to skip the line, you can schedule a private tour that takes you through the Library of Congress, the Capital, and the Supreme Court. I recommend getting tickets before you leave because they will sell out. Get your tickets by clicking here .

How to get to the Library of Congress?

The Library of Congress stretches out to multiple buildings. But the most prominent one pictured here is directly behind the US Captial, called the Jefferson Building.

It’s accessible via Uber, Scooter, or Bike. We ended up using a capital share bike rental and dropping the bikes off a couple of blocks past the library.

As a quick word of caution, you are on busier streets and the sidewalks were packed. It was also a slow incline the whole way there.

You’ll know why it’s called capitol hill after making the climb. If you want to avoid walking in sweaty, consider Ubering there and biking back to the mall.

There are tons of ways to get around Washington DC on a budget. Check out some more great options to take advantage of the Best way to get around Washington DC with Public Transportation

Enjoy yourself

Take your time when visiting the Library of Congress. I don’t think you will ever be in a building that is this beautiful again. But if you do need to rush, you could probably see all the most important pieces in about an hour.

To learn more about the Library Of Congress, I recommend reading America’s Greatest Library by John Y Cole . He does an excellent job of displaying the history and magnitude of this beautiful library.

When Britain Burned the White House by Peter Snow goes into more detail about when the British came to burn Washington.

Other Things to Do Around the Library of Congress

Other attractions to visit.

If you enjoyed visiting the Library of Congress, you should also take the tunnels over the State Capitol. They offer free tours with no reservations required.

You can also get the chance to see Congress in action! I also recommend visiting the National Archives.

These have some of the most amazing pieces of our history on display. I am still shocked to this day that they are still around after the war of 1812. I hope you have a great time on your visit to the Library of Congress.

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Minnesota native and Midwest travel expert Jennifer provides insider tips and budget-friendly trip ideas for families looking to explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Through her travel blog DayTripper28, she draws on first-hand experience to recommend the best hidden gems, outdoor adventures, road trips, and weekend getaways around Minnesota and the Midwest. With her passion for uncovering local flavors and culture along the backroads, Jennifer shares affordable itineraries for creating memorable experiences across the region.

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Library of Congress Tours

The Library of Congress Building on Capitol Hill is one of Washington, DC's best architectural treasures and a must-visit for all.

Better still, it's free to enter , whether you are using the library for research or a visiting tourist.

And, as local tour guides who regularly lead tours here, we are lucky to have jobs with some of the best office space in the world.

A few of us have researched here, and one of our guides even worked here.

And, as tour guides, we are asked daily about how to visit, when is the best time, etc.

It's also a regular topic of discussion in our Washington, DC Travel Tips Facebook group, where our tour guides answer your questions about Washington, DC.

So, we decided to use our personal experiences and expertise to create to answer as many of your questions as possible.

This post explains how to take a Library of Congress tour as well as highlights and exhibits that you will see.

Be sure to join us on one of our  Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Tours .

• Timed Tickets
• Plan Your Visit
• Guided Tours
• Self-Guided Tour
• Current Exhibitions
• How to Get a Library Card
• Things to Do in DC

Why I love taking guests to the Library of Congress

Timed tickets.

As of 2024, the Library requires timed tickets in order to visit inside.

Admission to the Library of Congress is still free, but you will need to make reservations before arriving.

This process takes about 5 minutes and they usually have more than enough spots open each day.

Tickets can be reserved up to 30 days in advance, so you have plenty of time to plan out your trip.

That said, even visitors making plans the night before should have few if any issues. If you find the date you want is full, same day tickets are released at 9am the day of online.

Even if you forgot to reserve tickets, you can always take the Capitol & Library of Congress Tour , which runs twice a day, Tuesday through Saturday

We talk about and see the of the Library of Congress, as well as the Supreme Court and US Capitol.

Searching Availability...

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The Library of Congress is home to over 158 million items including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, films, and more.

Today, the complex has multiple buildings but the most breathtaking is the original: the Thomas Jefferson Building.

Best Time to Visit

How to get here.

• Things to Do Nearby

The Library of Congress is free to visit and open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm (open late on Thursdays) and is closed on Sundays , Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

While timed tickets are required , there is not one time that is better than the others.

The Main Reading Room is open to visitors:

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday
• 2 pm to 3 pm Tuesday-Friday
• Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Because of this unique experience, these times are often busier.

When the main reading room is not open to visitors, you can still view it via the second floor overlook.

Address : 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540 ( map ).  

We recommend using the map link to get exact directions, as there are 4 Metro lines in two stations for access to the Jefferson Building.

The closest is  Capitol South ( Orange / Silver / Blue ), which is just a 5-minute walk. The other is  Union Station ( Red ), which is a 15-minute walk.

Learn more about riding the Metro with our guide .

Find and reserve available parking in the area with SpotHero .

You can also access the Library of Congress and bypass security if you're already in the Capitol Visitor Center.

There is a tunnel that connects the two buildings, allowing you to go to the Library of Congress without having to go back through security.

The tunnel will bring you to the basement level of the Library, where you'll also find the Visitor Desk and the start of their guided docent-led tours.

As with most buildings in D.C., expect to go through security. You can find their exact guidelines here.

There is no eating or drinking allowed in the building, though visitors are allowed to enter as long as any food or drink is stored in a bag.

Photography is allowed in most of the building, though there is no flash photography allowed in the Bibles, the Reading Room, and the Jefferson Room.

If you're visiting the U.S. Capitol Building first, you do not need to go through security again at the Library of Congress, if you take the access tunnel that connects both.  

Do note that food and drink are not permitted in the Capitol.

Things to do Nearby

The Library of Congress is part of Capitol Hill, so make a half-day of it and also visit:

• United States Capitol Building
• Supreme Court Building

You're also walking distance from Union Station, where you'll find a nearby Metro Station and a food court for quick meal options.

It's a beautiful building in its own right, so take our self-guided tour of the building while you're at it.

About a 10-minute walk along Pennsylvania Ave, you'll find Eastern Market.

It is one of our favorite neighborhoods to explore local restaurants, or join our Eastern Market Food Tour !

TOURS OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The Library of Congress offers tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building, including guided, self-guided, and virtual tours.

Take a Guided tour with us!

Our Capitol Hill & Library of Congress tour with VisitDC tours included ticketed access and a guided tour of the interior of the Library of Congress.

Official Guided Tours

These are the official tours that visitors enjoy on most days of the week.

This free general tour covers the art and architecture of the Jefferson Building, including a view into the main reading room, as well as the history and purpose of the library itself.

Each tour lasts 1 hour and takes place every day, except Sundays. Tours depart from the ground floor information desk.

Reserved Group Tours

The Library also offers special docent-led tours to groups of 10 or more.

These tours must be prearranged by calling the Visitor Services Office: at (202) 707-8000 or emailing them at [email protected].

The reserved group tours include:

• Thomas Jefferson: The Man and His Ideas
• Music and Performing Arts
• Exploring the Early Americas

Self-Guided and Online Tours

Below, we have provided our extensive self-guided tour of the interior and exterior of the Jefferson Building.

The library itself offers an offer an online tou r, though we recommend using our self-guided tour below.

On-site, visitors can find interactive touch-screen displays that explain what is in view of the visitor.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Once you pass security, the first major room is the Great Hall. As you enter the Great Hall, you'll immediately look up.

This interior section of the building is nearly double the height of the entrance hall.

The works you see all around you are the efforts of 50 artists to contribute to the sculptures, paintings, and murals.

Scroll and zoom in to take a closer look at the Great Hall

Above you, look at the rose windows in the ceiling.

Most people assume that it is silver leaf surrounding the stained glass windows, but it is an aluminum leaf, which is more valuable at the time than silver leaf.

The various single names you see inscribed on the ceiling throughout the building are the last names of authors who have made great contributions to literature.

The first one most people spot is Bacon!

Below you are the symbols of the zodiac signs surrounding a brass inlay of the sun in the center.

Look at the staircases on either side of the Great Hall. Along the outside of each banister, you'll see " putti " which was popular during the Italian Renaissance.

These figures each represent a different profession or hobby that was popular in American life at the time of construction.

If you look closely at these little boys, each is holding an attribute of their profession.

A mechanic holds a wrench, an artist holds a paintbrush, and an etymologist holds a butterfly net.

See if you can figure out what jobs are portrayed by looking at each of the items held by the putti .

The original idea was to put sculptures of adult men holding these symbols of professions but the proportions did not work out as well within the banister as the putti. 

In the center of each banister at each side, the theme of the entire library is once again represented: the universality of knowledge.

On either side of the globe, figures represent the Americas and Africa on one side with a view of these continents on the globe they hold and a view of Europe and Asia on the opposite side of the Great Hall.

The Bible Collection

View a rare, perfect copy of the Gutenberg Bible (the first Bible printed using the printing press).

Here you can view a bible from the 1400s Germany.

See how the typeface of the printed Gutenberg Bible is similar to handwriting? They didn't have Times New Roman back then!

Once you've seen those, head upstairs to the upper level of the Great Hall. 

Note the groves worn into the marble steps from more than a century of fellow travelers and researchers.

On the east side of the building, you'll see a set of steps leading up to the Main Reading Room Overlook.

The Main Reading Room

Though technically not an exhibit, this is certainly a spectacle that should not be missed during your visit to Washington, DC.

Have you seen National Treasure 2?

This is the room that hides the Presidential Book of Secrets (we can neither confirm nor deny that it is really there.)

To view the Main Reading Room, you can access the overlook from the second level of the Jefferson building.

The Main Reading Room will be open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 pm to 3 pm Tuesday-Friday.

A set of stairs in the back leads to a small walk-through so you can have a peek into this beautiful room.

The library discourages flash photography and talking in the walk-through as there are often researchers below.

During busy times, a staff member is on hand to monitor the line but otherwise, just head up the steps and stay to the right!

As you head up the stairs toward the viewing platform, you will be greeted by a large mosaic of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, holding a list of fields of study and accompanied by an animal we all associate with wisdom: the owl.

Inside the Main Reading Room, look up towards the dome.

The personification of Human Understanding is surrounded by twelve figures that represent the various cultures that have contributed to the universality of knowledge.

• Egypt represents Written Records.
• Judea represents Religion.
• Greece represents Philosophy.
• Rome represents Administration.
• Islam represents Physics.
• The Middle Ages represent Modern Languages.
• Italy represents Fine Arts.
• Germany represents the Art of Printing.
• Spain represents Discovery.
• England represents Literature.
• France represents Emancipation.
• America represents Science.

The bronze statues depict men who have contributed to:

• Religion : Saint Paul the Apostle ( a leader of the first generation of Christians) and Moses ( Hebrew prophet, teacher, and leader)
• Commerce : Christopher Columbus ( explorer and navigator who helped open the Americas to European colonization ) and Robert Fulton ( American engineer and inventor known for the steam-powered engine )
• History : Edward Gibbon ( author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) and Herodotus (Greek author of the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world, the History of the Greco-Persian Wars )
• Art : Ludwig van Beethoven ( German composer and musician between the Classical and Romantic periods. and Michelangelo ( Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet )
• Philosophy : Plato ( Ancient Greek philosopher ) and Francis Bacon (British lawyer, statesman, and philosopher)
• Poetry : William Shakespeare ( English poet, dramatist, and actor ) and Homer (the  supposed author of the Illiad and Odyssey )
• Law : Solon ( Athenian statesmen) and James Kent ( helped shape common laws of both the new United States and England )
• Science : Sir Isaac Newton ( English physicist and mathematician ) and Joseph Henry ( American scientist )

Want to see the Main Reading Room up close? A few times a year on certain holidays the Main Reading Room is open to visitors!

The Thomas Jefferson Building, an Italian Renaissance-inspired structure, opened in 1897 to great renown.

When people visited Washington, they didn't write home about the Capitol Building or the White House, instead, they wrote home about the Library of Congress.

In many ways, the grandiosity of the building was an attempt (and a successful one) to prove America's strength in science, literature, and the arts - subjects that European countries had been dominating for hundreds of years.

For example, the building's dome, which is topped with the "Torch of Learning," is plated in 23-carat gold.

The art featured in the building is meant to showcase human achievement.

However, it also reveals the prejudice of the time, as most of the great thinkers featured throughout the building are male and Westerners.

However, representing the universality of knowledge, there are also thirty-three ethnological heads, which show a wide variety of countries and cultures, that surround the exterior of the building.

As you move to walk up the steps, take a moment to view the fountain on the road level.

This fountain of Neptune, the Roman God of the Sea. His sister, Minerva, is featured inside the building.

The king is surrounded by his court with his sons, the Tritons, and horses, symbolizing water.

He protects the sea of knowledge that is the Library of Congress' collections behind him.

The grand figure of Neptune would be 12 feet tall if he were standing!

While the fountain is not always on, the wavy lines of the sculptures do mimic the flowing of the water.

A particular favorite is the "spitting" turtles at the front of the fountain.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

There are permanent and rotating exhibits at the Library of Congress, and now there are also ones you can view virtually:

PERMANENT EXHIBITS

*NEW EXHIBIT* We are so excited about the new exhibit opening on June 14, 2024. While they say it is running until Decmeber 2024, we hope it will become a permanent exhibit.

“Collecting Memories " in the new David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery

The exhibit will show some of the treasures held in the Library's collection:

• Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten draft of the Gettysburg Address in 1863.
• The contents of Lincoln’s pockets on the night he was assassinated in 1865.
• Designs for the Washington Monument and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial .
• James Madison’s crystal flute (most recently brought into news by being played by Lizzo)
• A landmark first map of the newly independent United States compiled, printed and published in America by Abel Buell in 1784.
• Pioneering civil rights and women’s rights activist and educator Mary Church Terrell’s draft for her autobiography , “A Colored Woman in a White World.”
• Photos documenting the first nuclear bomb explosion overseen by J. Robert Oppenheimer – and a harrowing account of the bomb’s devastation from a Japanese teacher who survived the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Thomas Jefferson Library Collection

On the upper level of the Great Hall, you'll find the Thomas Jefferson Collection in the south gallery.

The actual collection is in the back room so you will have to walk through one of the Library's rotating exhibits to get to it.

A must-see while visiting the Library of Congress is the collection of Thomas Jefferson.

After the Burning of Washington in 1814, the original library collection was destroyed.

Jefferson sold his 6,487 books to create a new collection but his was different - it included a Latin translation of Euclid's Geometry and a book on beekeeping.

He said that there was no topic that one day Congress might not need.

His collection is circular and you can imagine Jefferson at his desk in his swivel chair surrounded by his books.

They are organized into three categories: Memory, Reason, and Imagination, as directed by Jefferson.

He, however, arranged his books on each shelf by size.

When you're viewing the books, they are not all originals owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Nearly two-thirds were lost in another fire but the Library was able to recreate the collection. Look closely at each book and you'll see a tag sticking out of the pages on the top.

• Gold : original to Jefferson Collection
• Green : purchased by the Library, but same year and edition as Jeffersons'
• Call Number/No Tag: was already in the Library collection, but the same year and edition as Jeffersons'
• No Book: They are still looking for one! Have any 18th c. books at home?

Mapping A Growing Nation: From Independence to Statehood  - North Gallery - First Floor.

Abel Bu ell’s New and Correct Map of the United States of North America is the first map of the newly independent United States compiled, printed, and published in America by an American. Learn more .

ROTATING EXHIBITS

• Join In: Voluntary Associations in America (closes July 6, 2024)

Not An Ostrich: And Other Images from America's Library

Southwest Gallery, Thomas Jefferson Building | Ongoing

This exhibit explores photography from daguerreotypes to contemporary digital technology.

The earliest exhibit is from 1839.

These curated pieces, taken from the Library of Congress collection of photographs, show unfamiliar people and places, and some offer a different view of popular events and themes.

View All Pieces from the Exhibit

Here to Stay: The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin

Gershwin Gallery, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building | Ongoing

"The exhibition celebrates the lives and work of George and Ira Gershwin through music manuscripts and other documents from the Gershwin collection that chronicle their lives and careers. The display includes George’s piano and desk, Ira’s typing table and typewriter, and self-portraits in oil by each brother."

HOW TO GET A LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LIBRARY CARD

Visitors can obtain a library card at the reader registration station in Room LM-140 of the Madison Building.

This building is across Independence Ave from the Jefferson Building.

You will also have to go through security to enter this building. Room LM 140 is on the ground level to the left of security.

Must be 16 years old or older, have a valid driver's license or passport, and complete a brief registration process to qualify.

HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country.

When the capital officially moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., President John Adams signed an act that stipulated that a library be made available to Congress and that a "suitable apartment" be created to contain it.

Thus, $5,000 was appropriated by Congress to establish the Library of Congress, which was originally housed in the Capitol Building.

However, in 1814, British troops arrived in Washington, D.C. with the intention of destroying the capital city.

The Capitol Building was burned, and all of the books in the Library of Congress were lost with it.

Shortly thereafter, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his entire collection -- over 6,000 books -- to the U.S. government to establish a new Library of Congress.

His collection caused some controversy; Jefferson's library included books in foreign languages, as well as books on philosophy, science, and mathematics.

Yet, Jefferson emphasized that "there is no subject to which a Member of Congress may not have occasion to refer."

The government eventually purchased his entire collection for $23,950.

In 1870, the size of the Library would increase dramatically as the Copyright Law was passed, requiring that all copyright applicants send 2 copies of their work to the Library of Congress.

The now rapidly growing collection required more space, and so Congress commissioned a new building, specifically dedicated for use by the Library, to be built.

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About The Author

Canden Arciniega

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.