In the center of Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, stands the Capitol Hill, which houses the highest legislative body, the United States Congress.
On the eastern side of Capitol Hill, you’ll find a magnificent Italian Renaissance-style building. This is the Thomas Jefferson Building, the main building of the United States Library of Congress, and has become one of the popular tourist attractions.
The Italian Renaissance-style building is truly impressive.
The main building of the Library of Congress is named after the 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson. It was constructed in the Italian Renaissance architectural style, boasting elaborate decorations both on the exterior and interior. Particularly, the main hall, just after entering, is remarkable with its white columns and golden ceiling that overwhelm visitors.
The main hall has a pair of grand staircases, one on the north and one on the south, allowing visitors to freely move around. At the back of the second floor of the hall, there are additional staircases that lead to a vast octagonal space. This space serves as the main reading room, where numerous volumes held by the Library of Congress are housed.
Established in 1800, it is the largest library in the world.
The Library of Congress was established on April 24, 1800, and holds the title of the world’s largest library in terms of the number of books in its collection. Initially, the library focused mostly on materials related to the politics of the United States, and it was located inside the Capitol building itself. However, during the War of 1812, Washington D.C. was burned down by British forces, and as a result, the library lost a significant portion of its collection. To rebuild the collection, the Library of Congress purchased the personal library of Thomas Jefferson, the former President, thereby significantly increasing the number of volumes.
Among its many treasures, one can find one of the four surviving complete versions of the Gutenberg Bible, and it is on display in the back of the first floor of the main hall. It’s definitely a must-see.
Over the years, the library expanded, and it was relocated to its current location, welcoming countless visitors.
Connected by an underground tunnel. Explore alongside the United States Capitol
The Library of Congress, boasting its status as the world’s largest, is actually connected to the Capitol Hill’s underground Capitol Visitor Center through a tunnel.
In most of the tourist attractions in Washington D.C., visitors are required to pass through metal detectors before entering the buildings. The same applies to the Library of Congress; however, if you enter the library through the underground tunnel from the Capitol Visitor Center, you will have already passed through security, and you won’t need to go through the security check again upon entering the library’s main hall.
When planning your visit, it is recommended to either start with the Capitol Visitor Center and then enter the library via the underground tunnel or visit the library first and then explore the Visitor Center afterward. Both the Library of Congress and the Capitol Visitor Center have closing times at 4:30 PM, so if you wish to visit both places, it’s a good idea to plan accordingly.
A paradise for book lovers: the Library of Congress
The United States Library of Congress, located on the eastern side of Capitol Hill, not only houses invaluable collections but is also of great artistic value due to its magnificent architecture.
For book enthusiasts, as well as those who appreciate architectural beauty, the Library of Congress is an outstanding tourist destination. The library offers tours as well, so if you’re interested, be sure to participate.
