Thomas Jefferson Building

The Thomas Jefferson Building stretches across four floors above ground and one basement level, constructed with marble, granite, bronze, gold, and mahogany wood materials.

Opening in 1897, this Beaux-Arts structure became the first Library of Congress building, designed by architects John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz through a competition.

The Main Reading Room features eight massive marble columns, each crowned with statues representing different fields of knowledge and human understanding.

Visitors can access the building through the entrance on First Street, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street, with full wheelchair accessibility throughout.

The building once connected to the Capitol Building through an underground tunnel featuring an electric book transport system for efficient document delivery.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1897

Architects: John L. Smithmeyer, Paul J. Pelz

Official opening: November 1, 1897

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

Floors above the ground: 4

Floors below the ground: 1

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: marble, granite, bronze, gold, mahogany wood

Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540-4660 20540-4660

Website: https://loc.gov/visit/tours/guided-tours/thomas-jefferson-building

GPS coordinates: 38.88872,-77.00553

Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:45