Library of Congress

Welcome to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, as well as the oldest in the United States. It was established in 1800 by President John Adams when Washington became the country’s capital. Back then, it contained 3,000 books, but the collection and building were almost entirely destroyed by the British during the War of 1812. The library survived and was rebuilt thanks to President Thomas Jefferson. He also sold his personal collection of over 6,000 books, allowing the library to continue living on. However, in 1851, when the library had more than 55,000 volumes, a fire broke out . It destroyed two-thirds of the collection, including some of Jefferson’s original books. They were soon replaced, and thousands more were added as the library continued to expand. Today, there are more than 150 million articles in more than 400 different languages. In this collection, there are obviously books, but also maps, sheet music, photographs, films, manuscripts and one of its most prized treasures: the original copy of the United States Declaration of Independence, partly written by Thomas Jefferson. Another one is the Gutenberg Bible, the first ever printed book in Europe. The Library of Congress has been open to the public since 1897, including its beautiful main building, called the Jefferson Building. Even though you aren’t allowed to borrow any books, there are several reading rooms for registered visitors, with access to certain works from this vast collection.