The Library of Congress was originally intended to serve as a reference library for the Congress. The collection numbered at 3000 books when it was burned in August of 1814, after British troops invaded Washington. A bequest from former President Thomas Jefferson helped revive the project; Jefferson’s library became the nation’s.

In 1851, Congress voted to move the library to another building, West of the Capitol building, which would serve exclusively as the Library. Under the directorship of Ainsworth Rand Spofford, who was appointed by President Lincoln, the Library soon outgrew its new building and in 1873, plans were made for a new home. The building, designed by Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, features murals, mosaics and marble, as well as a glorious dome over the Main Reading Room. The Library at last had a home befitting its status as a tool for the whole nation, which was opened to the public only a few years earlier.

Under law, two copies of any book, map, chart, dramatic or musical composition, engraving, cut, print or photograph submitted for copyright in this country are sent to the Library. This has helped to assure that the collections grow and represent the wealth of thought and research to be found in America. The original building has had two additions, 1939’s John Adams Building and 1908’s James Madison Building, one of the largest buildings in Washington. These additions were necessary to keep up with the growth of the collections.

The Library of Congress has long been a significant cultural resource for the people of the United States. The Library helped standardize the now-familiar 3 x 5 cards on which books were catalogued. The Library also pioneered the effort to serve blind patrons, but designing programs to loan Braille books and audio recordings of books.

The collections at the Library contain not only the wealth of published thought and activity to be found in this country, but also a number of exceptional gifts from private sources that are part of the nation’s resources. The Library oversees a collection of rare Stradivarius instruments to be used for public performances. The Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection of books published in the dawn of printing, before 1501 and other treasures. And the Library boasts hundreds of thousands of letters and documents from musicians, artists, writers, scientists and public figures. The Library of Congress is more than its name implies. More than a library, it is a treasure trove of material from the United States’ past and present, and it belongs not to Congress, but to the public.

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, closed Sunday and Federal holidays

Admission: free

Location: The Library of Congress is located at 101 Independence Avenue in Southeast Washington DC.
For tickets/information, call: 202-707-8000
Hours to call: 24-hour information line
Call 800-551-7328 for concert ticket information. This is the number for a TicketMaster outlet.
Visit their Web site at: http://www.loc.gov/