Thomas Jefferson Building, Main library building at First Street Southeast, Washington, D.C., United States
The Thomas Jefferson Building is the main Library of Congress building in Washington, D.C., featuring four floors above ground and one basement level constructed from marble, granite, bronze, gold, and mahogany wood. The interior showcases ornate craftsmanship and decorative details throughout its spaces.
This Beaux-Arts structure opened in 1897 as the first dedicated Library of Congress building, winning a design competition by architects John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz. The completion marked an important moment in the nation's approach to housing and preserving knowledge.
The Main Reading Room contains eight massive marble columns, each topped with statues that represent different fields of knowledge. These sculptures reflect how the building was designed to celebrate learning and human achievement.
The main entrance is located on First Street between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street, making it easy to find. Full wheelchair accessibility throughout the building allows visitors to explore all floors and rooms comfortably.
An underground tunnel once connected this building to the Capitol, featuring an early electric book transport system that moved documents between the two buildings automatically. This invention showed how technology was used to solve practical library challenges in the late 1800s.
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