This is the most beautiful interior to a library anywhere in the world. It’s wonderful to see that such an important place is so breathtaking with its colors and patterns, combined with an amazing collection of books. The tour is worth the start if your time is limited. This should be a mandatory stop on your national mall tour and the best thing is that it can be combined with US Capitol visit as there’s a tunnel that leads directly to the library.

The library is a great place to tour when you are in town. They had some awesome tours and some neat artifacts there that you won’t want to miss. Make sure not to bring food here, because they won’t let you inside with it.

The Library of Congress (LC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. The Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world. Its collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include research materials from all parts of the world and in more than 450 languages.

This is such a beautiful building! The architecture is very ornate and awe-inspiring. From the fountain out front to the marbling inside, this building is amazing! Its free to visit and the museum is very informative. They have numerous artifacts from our nations history and beyond. You will not be disappointed when you visit. Unfortunately, in order to enter the actual library you need to make an appointment. I completely understand that as it allows the library to be an actual library and not become a tourist trap. Please visit this beautiful place.

One of my favorite attractions in Washington DC. It is a great for couple of hours where you get to experience amazing architecture, beautiful views and well curated exhibits.I would recommend spending around couple of hours to full experience the whole library. Please note the you can only view the actual library area throw a screened terrace. The line can get long depending on the time and tourist season.

I love this place. Unfortunately COVID closed public access. The architecture is amazing.

Great displays! The grandeur of the building, tile work, and stained glass windows are truly breathtaking. This is really a stunning building!Not to mention that it offers an amazing view of the United States Capitol.

In a city of grand proud government buildings I know of no other as beautiful and graceful as the Library of Congress. The Jefferson Building is a national treasure.

My favourite building in DC. The actual library is fantastic. Very old school. The architecture is excellent as are the views of the Capitol. Always an interesting exhibit going on. My kids love the childrens rooms. Today my love for this building went even higher when the librarian showed my son and I the secret spiral staircase to the mens bathroom. So cool!

The is an incredible library. We took a tour and got to see and hear the history. The gothic design and american style fits well here.The only negative here was our tour lady. My son (young) sneezed in her vicinity. The visual and verbal reaction from her was over the top! We might as well have injected her with AIDS or something. My son wasnt even sick or showed any sickness. No runny nose or anything. He sneezed ... ONCE ... THAT time ... through the whole tour. My son felt so bad and embarrassed and we got the feeling she cancelled the tour early because of it.

I think this is my favorite place in all of DC! The architecture is simply stunning, probably the most beautiful in the city. All over the place are little quotes about knowledge and reading, and the hallways are long and colorful, and cool statues are ubiquitous. Its free, and there are no additional tickets to buy for anything. It is not the most popular place for tourists, because not many people know about how spectacular it is, so it is totally not crowded. Even if you dont get a library card pass into the reading room, you can see it from a window up above, and there is a pleasant little reading room for kids that I would have loved to spend a few hours in. There are also a few exhibits, including Thomas Jeffersons personal library, a temporary showcase of the Gutenberg Bible, and some smaller ones down a sort of secret hallway that nobody knows about so they are totally empty. (These include a Gershwin exhibit, something about cartoons, and a Bob Hope room.) If you are in town, definitely pay it a visit. I would probably come to read in the kids reading room every day if I lived in DC, but even if you are not a reading person, you will enjoy the magnificent building!

This is supposedly the worlds largest library. Although I havent been to the reading room, I was able to see the reading room from the viewing area.There is a Guttenberg Bible on display in addition to other historical artifacts. A gift shop is on site as well. Visiting hours when I visited in Jul were from from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Absolutely stunning architecture and painting! One of my favorite attraction when in Washington DC. You can spend the entire day here just to look at the decoration and the paintings on the wall and the ceilings. The library staffs were very friendly to tell every tourist want to go to get the best view of the library.

A wonderful experience and a magnificent sight! About 12,000 new items are added DAILY! The staff are quite helpful and courteous. A must see for any visitor to WDC!

The nations capital attracts tourists to the Washington monument, the Lincoln memorial, the Jefferson memorial, the Holocaust museum and recently the African American museum. All of those venues are rightly deserving of the attraction that they garner. However, visitors to Washington DC would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not stop and visit the Library of Congress. Conveniently located adjacent to the United States Supreme Court and across from the Capitol building, the Library of Congress is home to the largest collection of books from every conceivable subject that would require members of Congress to write, adopt, amend and address legislation. Upon his death the nations third president, Thomas Jefferson, bequeathed his entire library from his estate at Monticello to the to the young republic. That donation formed the foundation of the books that now comprise the library of Congress.

An architectural gem in the style of Italian Renaissance. Come for a free tour.

So cool, this building houses so much knowledge. Amazing architecture. You can get a library card if you are over 18, (they do expire every 2 years) this will allow you to check out books to read. I personally spent 3 hours reading everything from Buddhism to effects of illegal immigration to modern jewelry. They have the largest collection of books in the world so there is at least something that will interest you.

A beautiful, short and lonely afternoon.

The copy of 50 shades of grey I wanted had most of the pages stuck. also couldnt take it home. wasre of an afternoon !

Admissions is free. Take your time to look at all the beautiful architecture. It is amazing! Ask questions. If you are 16 years old or older, and you are doing research, you can use the Library. No food or drinks are permitted, however, they do allow bottle water. While we visited there was an America Baseball exhibit.

Youll need to have a library card to access the main reading room to work out of but its well worth it to work in the oldest library in the country. I think you need to be a DC resident to get your library card or at least a local, and yes, they require you to bring proof of residency. After 5 pm, you can still access the library until 9:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a library card at their back entrance on Second Street SE (Thomas Jefferson building)

BEAUTIFUL architecture! Its much bigger in person and makes you feel very small. We were going to skip the Library of Congress on our list of things to see in DC but Im so glad we did not and highly suggest checking it out!

The Library of Congress was quite neat. The building itself was impressive as was the history. A surprise for us was a small museum with a number of very interesting exhibits including Womens Voting and the history of Baseball which we really enjoyed. It is a multimedia display that highlights some of the most memorable events from baseballs history. You dont need to spend a ton of time here, but it is enjoyable.

The Library of Congress is considered as the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. While its exterior architecture is stunning, the inside is just as grandeur and beautiful.The paintings on the ceiling are incredible and you have plenty of time to spare, read the quotes on the walls and ceilings.

The awe of viewing this building from the outside alone kicks in the sense of wonder for what it contains. The architecture and artistry both inside and out is amazing, and I could have spent days admiring it.Even though security is tight, as with many locations in the capitol, the personnel were polite, professional, and provided both respect for your time as well as ensuring the safety of those inside.

You have to take your time to really appreciate the art & painting on the walls and ceilings. Free. Cool in the summer.

This is amazing! Great amount of history. Restrooms are on the lower level. Make sure to go in all the different wings.

Free admission to a historical library of congress, yes please! Theres also AC in here. The structure itself is beautiful, it feels like a European museum in there. The oldest books in the US can be found here too. Lots of good US history and information. You definitely can get lost in here.

Lovely building on Capitol Hill. The entrance is free and you can enjoy the grand architecture inside and outside. Dont miss out in the impressive fountain just under the entrance stairs by the main road.On The ground floor youll find one of the first bibles printed in Latin. Also the secretaries office.Take the stairs and go to level 2 to see the library hall from the balcony.

Enjoyed the amazing library of Congress tour. The main reading room was just da bomb. Totally worth going in to get all the resources you need. have to register and check in bags/jackets before going in though. Bit of a pain.

I don’t even have words to describe this place. It is AMAZING. You can go by yourself or take the guided tour. I’m definitely going back to actual read and live the experience. God Bless America

What a phenomenal place. The main lobby is stunning and you can spend a while just staring upwards. I recommend taking the tours that are offered several times daily. They’ll take you to places that are available to people just walking around, but you’ll get a lot of background info that’s useful. Be sure to see the Gutenberg Bible, the first map with the word America on it, and get your library card to access the main reading room!

If you haven’t been, you need to go. The building itself sends you back to time when European architecture, the arts, and education held sway over science and technology. It’s beautiful to see and makes you want to be back in college so you can just sit inside the reading room for a moment. The movie National Treasure put this landmark on the map again, and it doesn’t disappoint. Even the bathrooms are pretty!To see Thomas Jefferson’s library up close is definitely a highlight of my visit to DC.

Highly recommend visiting this place. I enjoyed getting to see all the exhibits here and even visiting the Main Reading Room, which is absolutely breathtaking. Free to visit, courteous staff, and plenty to see. Getting a reading card is easy and free if you wish to do research as well.

Simply Amazing! This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful building in DC. It should not be overlooked. The Gutenberg Bible, the Jefferson Library, and the new baseball exhibit are definitely worth the trip.

A beautiful library! I was so awestruck on the tour. If you visit and want an experience beyond the tour...go to the lower levels and sign up for a reader’s ID, and read something in one of their various reading rooms.

I really love the architecture and design of this building, its beautiful. You could spend hours in there and never get bored, the amount of history and the amount of information stored inside this masterpiece is so eye opening. This should be on the bucket list for anyone visiting Washington D.C.

Loved taking the tunnel from the capitol - so easy! Beautiful mosaics and fascinating exhibits. Sadly we missed the tour but overheard a bit - sounded very worthwhile.

If you are in DC you have to visit this building its so beautiful. I suggest that when visiting to attend the tour. The tour is free, easy to follow and doesnt take long. Youll have a great time and you will learn about every thing inside the building and its meaning.Oh and if you are in DC now you have a chance to see the Christmas tree inside the library. Its one of the best I ever seen!

An all around breathtaking building. A must if visiting D.C. Recommend a free tour if you are interested in facts, but can drag on. Easy and worth getting a library card downstairs as it allows you access into the main reading room, and they are valid for 2 years.

One of my favorite spots in DC. Their services are wonderful, and they have an amazing collection of books. Its the largest library in the world. They also have interesting exhibits throughout the year.

Dont expect to see much of the famous reading room. Also beware that during peak times there can be long lines moving through the (excellent) exhibits.

Much more than a typical library- didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as we did! The architecture and art alone made it worth visiting. Jefferson Library exhibit was awesome - had no concept of how many books he had before seeing it. Definitely recommend taking a group tour - you’ll learn a lot. Great experience not only for adults but also school age children. We allotted only about two hours for our visit, could have easily spent 3 - 4 here.

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Must go for the tour

Currently the biggest library in the world in terms of volumes. Reminds me of library of Alexandria of ancient Mediterranean world.

The Library of Congress is an absolutely immaculate building. I highly recommend taking a tour.

The Library of Congress is a definite must-see when in DC. The Thomas Jefferson collection of original books are a site to see.

A fantastic collection of content. The library has the largest collection in the world with 170 million artifacts. The architecture of the library is exquisite with very unique large spaces in the gray Hall and the reading room. Time permitting, take advantage of the guided tours. Currently there is a timely special exhibit on women suffrage and the related struggle that won women the right to vote a hundred years ago.

We scheduled our tour through our congressional representative and it was well worth the effort. The docent who conducted our tour was wonderful and extremely knowledgeable. The building is beautiful.

What an amazing place. The architecture is breathtaking. Make this one of your backlist places to visit.#travelformortals

This place is so beautiful! The building, the colors, everything is beautiful! If youre a bit of a library-nerd like me you should definitely go here and take a look. Its so impressive.

This is not your typical library. This libary is full of government policy and business style documents. This is a great place for law students or congressional employees. They do have countless amounts of reading material in various topics. This libary is a great place for educator and genius people of the world.

We recently visited DC and spent a day seeing attractions at Capital Hill and the west end of The Mall. The Library of Congress (free to visit) was by far the best of the area attractions and one of most enjoyable places we ended up visiting during this trip to the city.The Library of Congress is open from 8.30-5pm, making it one of the earliest attractions to open in the city, ideal for those who like to get an early start. It is further linked to the U.S. Capital building via an underground tunnel. By visiting these two government buildings, back-to-back via the linked passageway, you can avoid having to clear long security queue twice,As for the visit, very much enjoyed our time at the Library of Congress, finding the permanent fixtures and temporary exhibitions well worth seeing when visiting Washington. Make sure not to pass up visiting the ground floor Bob Hope and Gershwin galleries, each well worth 10-15 minutes minimum.Then you can make your way to the first floor Great Hall, which is stunning, resembling the princely halls of European palaces. Here you can pass by the Bibles room and take glimpse of an extremely rare Gutenburg Bible. There is also a side room showing some lovely historic maps. Lastly, you can step up and enter an elevated viewing platform area, overlooking the famous Reading Room, another stunning room to see and take pictures of. You can spend 30 to 45 minutes on this floor and will be quite in awe of what you see here.Next, you proceed to the Second floor to see the impressive Thomas Jefferson book collection as well as temporary exhibitions that might be on display. We were luckily to catch the Magna Carta exhibition as well as the Explorers and Encounters exhibition, both of which were worth another 20-30 minutes of time each. Check the Library of Congress website to see what temporary exhibitions are being held during the time of your intended visit.In the end, we spent just over 2.5 hours at the Library of Congress and left very impressed with what was available to be seen there. This ended up being one of the very best attractions we visited during our visit to Washington D.C., a place we would gladly return to during future visits to the city.

First off, I would suggest coming when it opens at 8:30. You get the whole tourist area to yourself and several other people. You wont have to wait in lines or dodge people. The building is beautiful. The architecture and building materials are top notch. The library has many interesting exhibits and artifacts. My personal favorite is the full Guttenberg Bible they have. Its one of the few last remaining full Guttenberg bibles left in the world. I would definitely recommend coming to the Library of Congress.

Beautiful place to go a lot of history

Amazing library, it’s huge, makes you feel like your in a Harry Potter movie

Beautiful facility with very educated representatives! A must see.

The library of Congress is located in Washington DC, USA. with over 167 million items in its collection. The library of Congress is the largest library in the world. the collection includes over 39 million books and other printed materials, 3.6 million recordings, 14.8 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 8.1 million pieces of sheet music, and 72 million manuscripts. The library was established in 1800 A.D. and contains materials is over 450 languages. some of those materials include one of the smallest books in the world (you have to turn the pages with a needle) stradivarious violins, and digitally archived tweets, the library grew and expanded after the American civil war, and started accumulating literature and important applications from all across the world.Thank you.

The architecture in this building is stunning. Perhaps the most beautiful interior in all of Washington, D.C. and certainly one of the finest Beaux Arts style buildings in the United States. This is a must visit location and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you do not go inside.

An amazing, beautiful building. Definitely worth the time to walk around and see it all.

2nd visit and STILL need more! Absolutely beautiful with awesome exhibits!

Sprawling library right next to the Capitol building. Taking one of the free tours is highly recommended; you learn a lot and can explore afterwards. If you are over 16 and have your ID, you can even get a library card!

Helpful staff, beautiful buildings and endless collections exhibited in assigned rooms. Just amazingly impressive. Coat check for most bags and jackets at each building, as well as airport style security measures. They only allow a wallet sized purse in the reading rooms if you have requested books to review or are doing research. Read the reading room rules before doing research here.

A must see if you are visiting Washington DC. Iconic old building with architecture and artwork that will amaze. Be sure to walk through the underground tunnel from the US Capital Building to save a bit of time and to get out of the weather.

Such an imposing building. I hope lots of people using the library. I am told in India the parliament library is hardly used by any of the elected members.

The architecture alone is enough to fall in love with. The art and detail are impeccable and breathtaking. It really is overwhelming and a lot to take in, in a good way... like if you were holding the last piece of chocolate on Earth and you want to savor it and take a long time eating it, because you know youll never have it again. Jeffersons library is impressive and I would have been happy to stay in the main hall forever. I didnt want to leave.

This is heaven for book lovers! Seeing Jeffersons personal collection of books is a unique experience. The art work on the ceilings is breathtaking and the quotes written on the walls are inspiring. Mosaic work in the walls, floors, and ceilings is superb. A must see!

The Library of Congress is a wonder! *Whistle!* It is an art gallery, museum, research center, and a fascinating library that has over 61 million manuscripts, 32 million cataloged books, the USAs largest rare book collection, and items in well over 470 languages. It even features a reading lounge just for children on the lower level. There is not enough time in one day to thoroughly explore all this national landmark has to offer, but it sure is fun trying!

One of the best decorated library in United States. One of must see in Washington, D.C! you can either see the museum or go to main reading room and try to grab a book from 1800s. Good place to study, too, only if you do not get distracted easily by its beauty!

A must visit spot in DC. Its an amazing place to checkout.loved the architecture work. There are many things to see and learn the history in the library and depending on when you come there will be some activity or another happenings.Best recommended to take a tour with the local

Wow, the architecture in this building is amazing! Our visit was a bit rushed, but we could have easily spent 3 hours inside. The Jefferson Library was the highlight of the visit. Seeing all of the old books was so awesome to me. You can sign up for a tour or choose to walk through the building on your on. We did it on our own, but had we known the tour groups had priority, we would have done that. In one part of the building, security basically told us to hurry up and get out because a tour was coming up. It was a bit rude in my opinion.

Very cool things to see in this library. E.g. a Gutenberg Bible. Nevertheless it is the most crowded and noisy library I know The tours are OK but because of the noise in the building is the guide very hard to hear / understand.

The building is absolutely beautiful and you can spend a long time admiring its artistic details. Make sure to look up. Multiple floors with multiple gallery exhibits to enjoy on a variety of topics. When I went, they had exhibits on baseball, WWII, Women Illustrators, the colonization of the New World, and entertainers and politics. People flock to see the Gutenberg Bible and line up to view the reading room from the balcony. They offer multiple daily tours, but get there early. There is a reading room open to the public for children in the back lower left corner. Go down the hall. It seems like youre not supposed to, but its okay. The gift shop is of medium size featuring literary and USA themed knick knacks, but fewer books than you would expect. See just how much Thomas Jefferson liked to read in the display of his library and then buy a tote bag with his quote on it. No food and no drink allowed but there are water fountains, bathrooms, a phone charging station, and tables outside in the sun. Entrance facing the Congretional building.

So beautiful. can be finished within an hour

Very nice for family and friends to visit.

A must-see monument in DC. The basic tour tells you about the building, the major history, and lets you see the main chamber under the dome. They had great exhibits on baseball and the outbreak of WWI. They also have a bag and coat check which is a great convenience.

It’s wonderful library. It looks different

How to get into the Great Hall, Hidden Tunnels, & Secured Rooms!Come to the Library of Congress for your free library card. Its the world’s biggest book collection with amazing architecture, hidden tunnels, the Guttenburg Bible, and 160 million books, photos, films, recordings, maps, newspapers, pieces of art, and artifacts from around the world. (See photos.)In a word, this place is epic.Get your free Reader Registration federal Photo ID library card to become a Library of Congress Researcher! Take the tunnel to the Madison Building, Room LM 140. Now you can get into the “Great Hall” Main Reading Room where Nicolas Cage found the Book of Secrets in National Treasure.See the Bob Hope and Gershwin exhibits and many more. The information desk can set you up with a guided tour. When you are done, you can take another hidden tunnel across the street to the US Capitol, “Capitol Hill.” Everything is free!

This was an amazing building. Easily the most ornate library I have ever visited. The reading room was one highlight. Amazing to see the room where old and one of a kind books can be read. Beautiful public areas. The amount of knowledge contained in its collection is hard to fathom. You can even get a Library of Congress library card. If you are in DC you should visit.

The building itself was a work of art! I ceilings through out the building were gorgeous. I truly loved the reproduction of Thomas Jeffersons library. I, also, liked the way they denoted the individual volumes as to weather it was an original (ie the one on display was the one in his library), another copy of the original book, or a mock up until one can be found. The Guttenberg Bible display was very well done.

A good solid library for the Congress and it’s huge and beautiful. I was amazed at the structure from the outside and inside. You have to pass through metal detectors before going inside. You do not need to have a scheduled tour to see it. There are some stairs in the back where you can go up to see the whole library. The place is clean, and they sometimes have other exhibits available to see.

Beautiful building. You can leave your coat/bag while you explore the exhibits comfortably. There’s even yellow pages and pay phones in the bathroom (what are those? Lol) Toured this with no guide and had a blast!

I often visits here read my favorite book because i like to read different kind of book and this library fulfill all my need. The infrastructure was awesome and the reading halls were well maintained. So according to me this is the best library .

Just wish I can stand in the center of the library grand hall.

This library is fascinating from floor to ceiling, from wall-to-wall, from window to window, from painting to painting, and from one of a kind architecture. This place is a treasure for the entire family and an absolute must see. To top it all off, everyone needs to visit the largest library in the world. Even though there are a ton of books here and periodicals to read while you sit in silence, the spectacular architecture that basically frameworks this entire building is beyond comprehension. Not only is this a library, its an art gallery and a collection of American masterpieces inshrined on the walls. Im kind of wondering if the Dewey Decimal system really works here. The people that work in the library are delightful and yes they all have library voices, thats amazing in itself!

Very very nice

I visited here 2 time and each i had great experience . I like their attractive infrastructure and the way they place all the stuff which is easily visible to all. The book were superb with lots of knowledge. The seats were also comfortable. overall nice place for book lover.

Nice architecture. Thank managed to get a tour of the Asian section, but that is typically reserved for members. It’s a phenomenal place to visit while in DC, if just for the architecture inside alone. Would recommend (also—its always free!)

The Library of Congress is beautiful! The exhibits that they have are very interesting. Jeffersons library is a must see.

Very beautiful place with intricate designs and murals.

If you go to the Capitol first, there is an inside walk way to the library that takes 5 min. The library itself is gorgeous! A must see. You dont need a reservation or a tour, you can explore on your own. Definitely wait in line to see the reading room. Its beautiful. Theres other exhibits like early maps, Jeffersons library, and the Gutenberg bible.

Great building & book collection, take a tour inside.

Secret treasure of D.C. People might not bother to check out the Library of Congress thinking its just a library. Frankly they would be missing out in one of the best experiences D.C. has to offer. Its not crowded like many of the other museums. And you know what, the LoC is truly a museum, more than it is a library, for most of us who are not scholars or looking to do research. Be sure to set aside a few hours to come visit this hidden treasure! And it was the site of the filming of National Treasure probably one of Nicholas Cages better endeavors!

Being a total bibliophile with a degree in Information and Library Sciences, this had been on my wife’s top 10 list. She is to this place what Sam was to the Citadel in GOT. I was personally moved by the beauty and architecture. Lots of cool and unique books, Gutenberg’s bible but I found the “History of Curse Words” hysterical. I laughed like a 10 year old.

BeautifulFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. The Library is housed in three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.; it also maintains the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia.The Library of Congress claims to be the largest library in the world. Its collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include research materials from all parts of the world and in more than 450 languages.

Very scenic inside and fascinating to see. Strangely, all the ‘u’s on the writing on the wall looked like ‘v’s.

Calm place with positive atmosphere. The reading room was superb and the books here were well placed so that anyone can easy find the stuff they want whichs a good point. Staff was also decent and take care of the needs of people. Everything was great!! Must recommended place

The building is incredible and the details in the ceiling and walls are amazing. However, there are no signs outside to point out that the beautiful building is in fact the Library of Congress and unfortunately when you get inside there is not enough of the actual library portion to see. There is a small glass enclosure in which you can see the reading room and thats as close to any books as i got. A little bit of a disappointment.

Big collections of book and you can see where the people work inside of it. Beautiful architecture.