Hallway in the Thomas Jefferson Building |
|
---|---|
Click on image to enlarge |
The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress in 1800 when President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington. The legislation described a reference library for Congress only, containing "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress - and for putting up a suitable apartment for containing them therein...." The Library of Congress opened the doors of the Thomas Jefferson Building to the public in 1897, after being housed in the Capitol Building since 1815. The 326,000 square feet of floor space in the new building represented an unparalleled national achievement. Its design linked the United States to classical traditions of learning and simultaneously flexed American cultural and technological muscle. It was considered the "largest, costliest and safest" library building in the world. It has an elaborately decorated interior, embellished by works of art from more than 40 American painters and sculptors. Medium : 1 drawing : watercolor over graphite underdrawing Created/Published : c1897 Creator : G.W. Peters, artist Housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 days Product #: 21604040 |
Go Back |