Library of Congress

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快速信息: The main reading room features a 160-foot domed ceiling, and the library holds over 175 million items across 470 languages. Thomas Jefferson sold his personal library of 6,487 books to Congress in 1815 after the original collection was burned by British troops during the War of 1812.

亮点: Walk into the Great Hall and look up: a 75-foot stained glass skylight glows above you, surrounded by marble columns and gold-leafed arches. The Gutenberg Bible, one of only three perfect vellum copies in the world, sits in a climate-controlled case, its 15th-century ink still crisp and readable.

内部小贴士

• Enter through the Jefferson Building's ground-floor door on First Street SE, not the main steps, to skip the security queue on busy days.
• Stand at the exact center of the Main Reading Room's floor and whisper: the 160-foot dome creates a perfect acoustical focal point.
• Visit the second-floor mezzanine for the best photo angle looking down into the Main Reading Room without the crowds.
• The cafeteria in the Madison Building is reasonably priced and has outdoor seating, far better than the overpriced carts on the National Mall.

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