A vacation to Washington
D.C. is filled with seeing the sites, visiting museums, and taking in some
history. The Smithsonian Museums are a
must. There’s nothing like taking your
picture on the steps of the U.S. Capitol or posing next to Honest Abe at The
Lincoln Memorial. But, there are a few
less touristy options you may want to consider too. Here’s one of our favorites.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest
library and quite possible one of the greatest collections of knowledge known
to mankind. Now, you may be wondering
how exciting touring a library could be?
We’re not talking about your local public library here. The Library of Congress is packed full of
history, literally.
Congress established the
Library on April 24, 1800. However, the
entire collection of 740 volumes and 3 maps were destroyed
during the War of 1812. Thomas
Jefferson came to the rescue and offered to sell Congress his collection of
nearly 6,500 books. Today, the Library has more than 650 miles of
bookshelves filled with over 140+ million items.
Guided and self-guided
tours take visitors through the Library’s magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building. The architecture alone is worth the visit –
it’s the most stunning Federal Building ever built. Stained glass ceilings, marble floors,
mosaics, paintings, and sweeping staircases are a few of the highlights. Visitors get the chance to see George
Washington’s copy of the Constitution, drafts of the Declaration of Independence,
The Gutenberg Bible, and the 1st map bearing the name America.
To get the most out of
your visit, we highly recommend the (free) Thomas
Jefferson Building Tour. It’s an
hour-long walking tour, offered Monday thru Saturday. Your guide will enthusiastically describe
the history, architecture, and the collections available to view. You’ll walk between the impressive marble
columns while seeing some of the country’s most significant documents, look
inside the famous Main Reading Room, and explore some of the Library’s special
exhibits. Then, you’ll be free to
explore on your own!
For more details, visit www.loc.gov/visit/tours/
Looking for more vacation
ideas? Visit our website, greatamericanvacationideas.com
, for complete travel guides to destinations around the country!
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