Library of Congress, Washington D.C. — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Library of Congress began in 1800 with just 964 books, but today it stands as the world's largest library, sheltering 17 million items in a sprawling temple to human knowledge. Congress wanted a library to support legislation, but Thomas Jefferson imagined something grander: a repository of American memory and possibility. The Main Reading Room, with its soaring dome and intricate mosaics, feels less like a library and more like a cathedral dedicated to learning. Browse the Jefferson Building's ornate architecture, marvel at historic documents including a Gutenberg Bible and the original Declaration of Independence drafts, and experience rare collections spanning human history. With Questo, you can hunt for literary treasures in the stacks, discover first editions from every nation, and understand why writers, researchers, and curious minds consider it sacred ground. The library's collections include everything from jazz recordings to Civil War photographs to Thomas Jefferson's personal library, assembled as he wished.