Library of Congress

There is a building southeast of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, which is also on the main axis from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol. It is the Library of Congress, also known as the Thomas Jefferson Building. It is currently the world's largest treasure trove of knowledge and creation, with a collection of more than 150 million items including books, prints, audio materials, photographs, maps, music scores, films and manuscripts, and the number of collections is always increasing. In 1800, President John Adams signed a bill to move the federal government to Washington, D.C., which provided for the establishment of a library to "provide Congress with the necessary books." At that time, the newly built Capitol building housed 740 books and three maps. In August 1814, the British army burned down the Parliament Building during the invasion, and the small library was not spared from destruction. President Thomas Jefferson had retired at the time and offered his private library to Congress to replace the one that had been destroyed. In 1815, Congress appropriated funds to purchase Jefferson's collection of 6,487 volumes. This batch of books laid the foundation for this huge national library. Jefferson believed that books on all subjects were important to the legislative body of Congress. Guided by this philosophy, the Library of Congress developed a comprehensive collection policy. This is how we have such a large collection today. The hall displaying Thomas Jefferson's collection of books is located on the second floor. Due to the lack of space in the Capitol and two devastating fires, Congress approved the construction of an independent library building for the safety of the library's collections. The new Library of Congress was completed and put into use in 1897. In 1980, the Library of Congress building was named the "Thomas Jefferson Building" in honor of Thomas Jefferson's contribution to the Library of Congress. The building was completely renovated from 1984 to 1997, revealing this magnificent 19th century building to us. It is free to visit the building, and you can reserve an entry time by scanning the QR code on the official website or at the door, but you must go through security checks to enter the building, which are at a level similar to airport security checks. The library is very large and is divided into three parts for visitors to visit. The first is the lobby on the first floor, which is the highlight. In addition to the magnificent Italian Renaissance architectural style, there are many exquisite decorations and sculptures telling different stories. Particularly noteworthy are the two treasures of the museum: the Mainz Bible and the Gutenberg Bible. The second is the second floor, which, in addition to the architecture, decorations, and sculptures, overlooks the library's main reading room. The third is to enter the main reading room for a visit under the guidance of staff. No flash photography or loud noises are allowed. Enter in groups, and don't watch the time carefully. For many tourists, it is a great fortune to have the opportunity to visit the Library of Congress. After all, the time for sightseeing in Washington is limited. Taking some time to experience this great 19th-century building and to visit the library that brings together the vast spiritual wealth of mankind is a very important experience in the travel itinerary.