Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

The Library of Congress, housed in the Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street SE on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, in the United States, is the largest library in the world by collection size and the research arm of Congress. The building, completed in 1897 in Italian Renaissance style, is among the most richly decorated public interiors in the country, with marble staircases, mosaics, stained glass and murals by many American artists. The Great Hall, with its coffered ceiling and sculptures, is the centerpiece, and visitors can see exhibits on the Gutenberg Bible, the Giant Bible of Mainz and Thomas Jefferson's personal library. From the Visitor Gallery, a corridor overlooking the Main Reading Room, the domed circular space with its rows of wooden desks can be viewed, although the room itself is reserved for researchers. Additional exhibits present maps, early American documents, musical manuscripts and rotating displays. Admission is free, and a timed-entry pass at loc.gov/visit is recommended. The building is typically open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and the current schedule should be confirmed before visiting. A visit takes one to two hours. The best photo angles are the Great Hall from the main staircase and the Reading Room view from the gallery, though photography rules apply. Crowds are heaviest in spring and summer; weekday mornings are calmer. An underground tunnel links the library to the Capitol Visitor Center, making it easy to combine both. The Capitol South Metro station is about 0.3 miles away.