Introduction
Welcome (1 minute, 51 seconds)
Start your tour anywhere you would like with a welcome by Fourteenth Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden.
Location: First Floor
Chapter 1: Great Hall (3 minutes, 42 seconds)
Stop on the first floor to hear an introduction to the Great Hall and the construction of the Thomas Jefferson Building by Rod Woodford.
Chapter 2: Gutenberg Bible & Written Word Gallery (3 minutes, 18 seconds)
Dr. Stephanie Stillo, Assistant Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, introduces you to the Library’s Gutenberg Bible and the gallery that holds it, which explores ways humans have recorded and shared knowledge over time.
Chapter 3: Librarian’s Ceremonial Office (50 seconds)
Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden welcomes you to her ceremonial office, which served as the primary working area for Librarians of Congress from 1897 to 1980.
Chapter 4: Librarians’ Wall (1 minute, 54 seconds)
Rod Woodford shares stories of the Librarians of Congress who have led the institution since its founding in 1800.
Location: Second Floor
Chapter 5: Minerva Mosaic (1 minute, 11 seconds)
Rod Woodford introduces you to the large mosaic of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom in this segment. View the mosaic from the bottom of the stairs as you listen.
Chapter 6: Art + Science on the Mezzanine (3 minutes, 22 seconds)
A celebration of art and science can be found on the walls and ceilings in this section of the building. Rod Woodford offers an introduction to the images here and how they relate to the Library’s collections.
Chapter 7: Founding of the Library of Congress (3 minutes)
Hear about the origins of the Library of Congress and how that history affects the Library’s collecting policies today. Start this portion of the guide at the windows overlooking the U.S. Capitol.
Chapter 8: Thomas Jefferson’s Library (3 minutes, 7 seconds)
Dr. Stephanie Stillo introduces you to the exhibition of Thomas Jefferson’s library, which was the foundation of the modern Library of Congress.
Chapter 9: Main Reading Room Overlook (3 minutes, 37 seconds)
Anyone age sixteen and older can register for a readers card to research at the Library. Hear more about the research that happens at the Library along with an introduction to the architecture and design of the space.