John Adams Building

The John Adams Building features white Georgia marble walls, steel framework, and neoclassical elements across its six floors and basement level.

The United States Congress approved 6.5 million dollars in 1930 for this second Library of Congress building, which opened its doors in 1939.

Bronze sculptures on the building entrance depict various mythological figures, including Odin and Quetzalcoatl, representing different cultural knowledge traditions.

The structure contains 180 miles of shelving space across twelve tiers of stacks, providing storage capacity for ten million volumes of books.

The building incorporated innovative materials for its time, including acoustical blocks, formica, vitrolite, and glass tubing in its construction.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Official opening: January 3, 1939

Architectural style: neoclassicism

Floors above the ground: 6

Floors below the ground: 1

Made from material: steel, marble

Address: 120 2nd St SE, Washington, DC 20002 20002 20002

Website: https://loc.gov/visit/online-tours/john-adams-building

GPS coordinates: 38.88850,-77.00270

Latest update: March 8, 2025 21:29