Worth a detourSight · LandmarkFreeRainy day

Library of Congress

The Thomas Jefferson Building is the most beautiful interior in Washington: marble, mosaics and a domed reading room. Free timed-entry tickets are required: up to 30 days ahead, plus a few released online at 9 AM on the day. Open Tuesday to Saturday. A tunnel usually links it to the Capitol Visitor Center, so pair the two.

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Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · CC BY-SA 3.0

Open: Tuesday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, last entry 4:30 PM
Price: Free, with a free timed-entry ticket (up to 30 days ahead, plus some released at 9 AM on the day)
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: Pair it with a Capitol tour on the same morning or afternoon.
Address: 10 First St SE, Washington, DC 20540Google Maps Apple Maps
Getting there: Capitol South (Blue, Orange, Silver). The visitor entrance is on First Street SE.
Accessibility: Accessible entrance and elevators.
On site: A cafeteria in the Madison Building across Independence Avenue; bags are screened.

Why go

The world's largest library is housed in the 1897 Thomas Jefferson Building, whose Great Hall is a riot of marble, mosaics and painted ceilings. Look down into the domed Main Reading Room from the overlook, see one of the three perfect Gutenberg Bibles printed on vellum, and walk through the reconstruction of Thomas Jefferson's own library.

Tips

A tunnel usually links it to the Capitol Visitor Center, so you can walk between them without going back through security.
Free docent tours of the building run through the day.