Touring the Library of Congress- the World’s Largest Library

The Library of Congress prides itself on being the largest library in the world. It serves as the main research hub for the U.S. Congress. The library has a collection of over 158 million books, films, videos, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts. The library holds materials from all over the world and in more than 470 languages!

The interior of the building is jaw-dropping. The building was designed to show that America was (and still is) a powerhouse in science, literature, and the arts- subjects that have been dominated by European countries for hundreds of years. However, art featured in and on the building is meant to celebrate human achievement- not just American achievements. One of the most splendid examples of this grandeur is the building’s dome, which is topped with the “Torch of Learning” and plated in 23-carat gold.

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History of the Library of Congress

Until 1800, Congress held sessions in both New York City and Philadelphia before moving to Washington, DC. In both of these cities, Congressmen had access to the impressive collections at the New York Society Library and the Library Company of Philadelphia. In comparison, the original DC library, which was housed in the U.S. Capitol, was much more limited.

During the War of 1812, the British defeated American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg. That evening, British forces set fire to multiple government buildings including the White House and the Capitol Building.

In 1815, the efforts began to restore the collection. The library purchased Thomas Jefferson’s entire personal collection of 6,487 books- many of which are on display at the Library of Congress. Some of the books were damaged in another fire, which took place in 1851.

We’ll discuss this collection a little more in a section below.

Following the Civil War, efforts to beef up the library continued. The library received the right of transference of all copyrighted works to deposit two copies of books, maps, illustrations, and diagrams printed in the US.

Can't Miss Exhibits at the Library of Congress

Thomas Jefferson's Library

Within a month of the British burning down the US Library during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his personal Library. Jefferson had spent the better part of 50 years collecting a wide variety of books in several languages. These books were about philosophy, history, law, religion, architecture, natural sciences, mathematics, classical studies, modern inventions, music, meteorology, and more. He even had cookbooks in his library!

Jefferson grouped his collection into three main categories: Memory, Reason, and Imagination.

The Bible Collection

Even if you aren’t a religious person, you should definitely check out the Bible collection. The collection features a rare, perfect copy of the Giant Bible of Mainz, the last handwritten bible before the print press was invented. If you look closely, you can see lines drawn across the pages by scribes to ensure their lines were perfectly straight.

You can also view the Gutenberg Bible, which was the first Bible printed using the printing press.

The Main Reading Room

Okay, so technically this isn’t an exhibit, but it certainly attracts visitors like it is! Visitors swarm the second floor overlook to look down onto the Main Reading Room.

Surrounding Reading Room you’ll spot bronze statues. These depict men who have made a significant global impact on knowledge. The statues are:

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 “discovered” the Americas and enabled European colonization of the “New World”) and Robert Fulton (American engineer and inventor of 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 (world-renowned German composer and musician) and Michelangelo (Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet)
Philosophy: Plato (Ancient Greek philosopher) and Francis Bacon (British lawyer, statesman, and philosopher- not the inventor of bacon)
Poetry: William Shakespeare (English poet, dramatist, and actor) and Homer (the author of the Illiad and Odyssey)
Law: Solon (Athenian statesmen) and James Kent (helped shaped common laws of both the new United States and England)
Science: Sir Isaac Newton (English physicist and mathematician) and Joseph Henry (American scientist ho served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution)

At the apex of the dome, there are twelve figures that represent the various cultures that have contributed to universal 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

How to Get a Tour of the Library of Congress

Guided tours are currently suspended but you can do a self-guided tour.

All visitors must reserve a timed-entry pass in order to access the building. The passes are free and can be reserved up to 30 days in advance.

Parties of 19 or fewer can reserve a timed entry pass here.

Parties of 20 people or more must request passes by filling out this form.

Many people also visit the Library of Congress to conduct research. Learn more about resources available to researchers and registering for a Reader Identification Card.

Best Time to Visit

The Library of Congress is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm. They are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

The busiest time to visit the Library of Congress is during the lunch hours, especially on weekdays. The best time to visit is in the late afternoons.

Getting to the Library of Congress

Address: 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540

We recommend accessing the Library of Congress via Metro.

The closest Metro 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.

If you’re visiting the U.S. Capitol Building first, you can access the Library of Congress through an underground tunnel and avoid going through security twice.