Library of Congress

Established in 1800 when President John Adams signed an act of Congress, the Library of Congress began as a small collection of books for legislative use housed in the U.S. Capitol. This initial collection was tragically lost in 1814 during the War of 1812 when British forces set fire to the building. To rebuild, Thomas Jefferson offered his personal library—the finest in America at the time—which consisted of 6,487 volumes. Jefferson’s belief that 'there is no subject to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer' fundamentally shifted the library's scope from a narrow legal repository to a comprehensive universal collection. Throughout the late 19th century, the library underwent a massive expansion, culminating in the 1897 opening of the Thomas Jefferson Building. This architectural marvel, designed in the Italian Renaissance style, was intended to be a 'National Temple of the Arts' and a symbol of American intellectual ambition. The building features intricate mosaics, murals, and sculptures created by over 50 American artists, making it one of the most beautiful public spaces in the United States. Today, the Library of Congress serves as the world's largest library and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. It houses more than 170 million items, including books, manuscripts, photographs, and maps in over 450 languages. It is not only a research arm for Congress but also the home of the U.S. Copyright Office and the National Film Registry, ensuring the preservation of the nation's creative and historical heritage for future generations.