Library of Congress main reading area

The tour guide at LOC  said that after the library was completed in 1897, they had $6 million left over. Instead of returning the money to Congress, they decided to bring in a team of artistic masters to brighten the place up. And wow, they totally got their money’s worth!

In addition to being the world’s largest library and having the most books, films, posters, sheet music, maps, audio recording anywhere (130 million items), the LOC also has collections of random stuff donated  from around the world. We’re talking baseball cards, personal letters from famous people, Native American cultural artifacts, musical instruments and on and on. When some rich lady heard that the Library of Congress had President Andrew Jackson’s flute in its collection, she wrote and asked, “Do you want my old flute?” To which the Library replied with the answer it always gives to such questions: “Why yes! Thank you!” And that’s how the LOC happens to have 2500 flutes in its collection.

Library of Congress reception area

Library of Congress columns and ceiling

Library of Congress ceiling