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| The Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress |
This morning the St. Albans School of Public Services was fortunate enough to have a private tour of the largest library in the world and one of the most striking public buildings in the U.S.A.: the Library of Congress. The current iteration of the Library of Congress dates back to August 1814, when British troops burned the Capitol, including the Congressional library within. Former President Thomas Jefferson offered to sell Congress his 6,487 volume library to provide the core of a new Library of Congress, and Congress made the deal for $23,950.
Two hundred and one years later, SPS 2015
visited the Library of Congress as it exists today: three buildings, housing the largest library collection in the world. And it's not just books! The Library's collection includes everything from comic books to antique maps to Stradivarious violins to real pirate gold! (We witnessed the last.)
During our private tour, we focused on (1) the early American printing exhibit, which contained everything from the first book printed in America (the Bay Psalm, late 1630s) to important Revolutionary War publications such as Thomas Paine's "Common Sense;" (2) the wonderful exhibit on the 1964 Civil Rights Act; and (3) a tour of the awe-inspiring Jefferson building, with its soaring heights and grand, ornate style.
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| With our host and guide, Ms. Gordon, outside the Library of Congress |
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| SPS on the move on Capitol Hill! |
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| Amazing details everywhere in the Jefferson Building |
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| Brandon, Elizabeth and Kellan at the Gutenberg Bible Exhibit (yes, THAT Gutenberg Bible) |
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| Alex checks out the Gutenberg Bible |
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| Learning about the architectural history of the Library of Congress |
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| Interior details |
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| View of the Main Reading Room |
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| Ms. Gordon, our host and tour guide |
