library of congress virtual tour

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VISITOR HOURS

Visitor hours for the Thomas Jefferson Building:

Monday | CLOSED Tuesday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m. Thursday | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., last entry at 7:30 p.m. Friday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m. Saturday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m. Sunday | CLOSED

The Library buildings are  closed  New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

While the Library is closed for research, the  Thomas Jefferson Building is open for visitors  on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.

A limited number of same-day passes are made available each open day at 9:00 a.m. EST. An individual can reserve up to (20) timed-entry passes for their visit.

Please note: your timed-entry pass gains you entry to the Library’s public spaces and exhibitions. If you are interested in research, please visit this page to learn more.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Information for, accessibility, sign in/sign up, contact person information *, secondary person contact information, group escort information *, group address.

Visitors must abide by all Library guidelines, including those listed below and/or guidelines posted at the Library. If a visitor or a member of their party fails to follow these guidelines, they may be denied entry or be asked to leave the premises.

Please review the following requirements and acknowledge your compliance below:

• TIMED ENTRY: Every Library of Congress visitor, regardless of age, must reserve timed-entry passes in order to maintain safe capacity levels in the Thomas Jefferson Building. Please bring your digital or printed pass to be scanned with a touchless device when you arrive at the Library.

o A limited number of timed-entry passes are available for each open day.

o Visitors can reserve timed-entry passes up to 30 days in advance on a rolling basis.

o Same-day timed-entry passes are released online at 9:00 a.m. EST each open day.

o Timed-entry pass reservations can be made for up to 20 people.

o Timed-entry passes may not be sold or transferred. Passes are valid only for the issued date and time and are void if altered.

o If you cannot visit the Library on your scheduled date, you may cancel your pass by contacting [email protected]. Passes cannot be transferred to alternate days.

o Please do not arrive before the entry time on your timed-entry pass.

o Visitors with timed-entry passes will be able to enter the Library until thirty minutes prior to building closure.

• MASKING: Masks are optional.

• GROUPS: Groups larger than 20 must contact [email protected] prior to reserving passes. Group reservations may be made up to 60 days in advance. Please be advised – voice amplification systems are not permitted inside the Thomas Jefferson Building.

• YOUNG VISITORS: Visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

• GUIDED EXPERIENCES (TOURS): The Library of Congress is not currently offering guided experiences or tours. Your visit will be self-guided. Volunteers are stationed throughout the building to provide directions, answer your questions and share stories about the Library’s building and collections.

• SELF-GUIDING THROUGH THE LIBRARY: Please be aware that navigating the Library’s public spaces in their entirety will take approximately 90 minutes, and will require about .5 miles of walking. Our highest visitation is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily. During this timeframe, there may be long lines to access the Main Reading Room Overlook.

• SECURITY: All visitors must navigate “airport-like” security to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring into our facilities as they will be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items you bring will increase your speed through security checkpoints, helping us all maintain a safe social distance.

• PERSONAL BELONGINGS: There is a coat check station available on the Ground Floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Backpacks, bags, coats, strollers, and other personal items may be checked at no cost to the visitor.

• SHOPPING AND DINING: The Library Shop is open whenever the building is accessible to visitors. The Madison Cafe (6th Floor of the James Madison Building), Subway (Ground Floor of the James Madison Building) and Dunkin’ Donuts (Ground Floor of the James Madison Building) are open until 2pm for visitors.

• PRIVACY: The Library of Congress will safeguard the personal information that you submit on this form and use it only for the purpose of facilitating your visit. More on the Library’s Privacy Policy at https://www.loc.gov/legal/privacy-policy.

Visiting the Library of Congress

An initiative of the American Library Association

Take Virtual Tours of These Stunning Libraries

Some of the most beautiful architecture in the world is found in libraries—which ensure that everyone in their communities can enjoy their amazing spaces. And even if you can’t visit a particular library in person, you may be able to explore its highlights virtually online.

Here are a few of our favorite library video tours:

Library of Parliament (Ottawa, Canada)

This library is so iconic that appears on Canada’s ten-dollar bill. In this video tour , check out the library’s gothic archways, marble statues, and meticulous wood carvings.

Mansueto Library (University of Chicago)

In this 360 ° video , explore the egg-like glass reading room of the University of Chicago’s Mansueto Library—then head deep into its underground storage area to see how robotic arms retrieve requested books.

New York Public Library

The main branch of the New York Public Library—a U.S. National Historic Landmark—is one of the most beloved buildings in NYC. This tour from Architectural Digest takes you through all the hidden details that even New Yorkers tend to miss.

Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.)

This 360 ° video from AARP lets you explore the majestic architecture of the United States Library of Congress—the largest library in the world.

Bodleian Library (University of Oxford)

You may recognize the 400-year-old Bodleian Library from the Harry Potter movie series; take a closer look with this 360° video from The Telegraph .

Seattle Public Library

The glass and steel Seattle Central Library is a stunning example of postmodern architecture. This video tour explores the building’s design highlights as well as showcasing the library’s services and programs.

Subscribe to the I Love Libraries newsletter for more highlights from the world’s coolest libraries.

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Library of Congress Tours

The Library of Congress Building on Capitol Hill is one of Washington, DC's best architectural treasures and a must-visit for all.

Better still, it's free to enter , whether you are using the library for research or a visiting tourist.

And, as local tour guides who regularly lead tours here, we are lucky to have jobs with some of the best office space in the world.

A few of us have researched here, and one of our guides even worked here.

And, as tour guides, we are asked daily about how to visit, when is the best time, etc.

It's also a regular topic of discussion in our Washington, DC Travel Tips Facebook group, where our tour guides answer your questions about Washington, DC.

So, we decided to use our personal experiences and expertise to create to answer as many of your questions as possible.

This post explains how to take a Library of Congress tour as well as highlights and exhibits that you will see.

Be sure to join us on one of our  Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Tours .

• Timed Tickets
• Plan Your Visit
• Guided Tours
• Self-Guided Tour
• Current Exhibitions
• How to Get a Library Card
• Things to Do in DC

Why I love taking guests to the Library of Congress

Timed tickets.

As of 2023, the Library requires timed tickets in order to visit inside.

Admission to the Library of Congress is still free, but you will need to make reservations before arriving.

This process takes about 5 minutes and they usually have more than enough spots open each day.

Tickets can be reserved up to 30 days in advance, so you have plenty of time to plan out your trip.

That said, even visitors making plans the night before should have few if any issues. If you find the date you want is full, same day tickets are released at 9am the day of online.

Even if you forgot to reserve tickets, you can always take the Capitol & Library of Congress Tour , which runs twice a day, Tuesday through Saturday

We talk about and see the of the Library of Congress, as well as the Supreme Court and US Capitol.

Searching Availability...

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The Library of Congress is home to over 158 million items including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, films, and more.

Today, the complex has multiple buildings but the most breathtaking is the original: the Thomas Jefferson Building.

Best Time to Visit

How to get here.

• Things to Do Nearby

The Library of Congress is free to visit and open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm (open late on Thursdays) and is closed on Sundays , Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

While timed tickets are required , there is not one time that is better than the others.

The Main Reading Room is open to visitors:

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday
• 2 pm to 3 pm Tuesday-Friday
• Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Because of this unique experience, these times are often busier.

When the main reading room is not open to visitors, you can still view it via the second floor overlook.

Address : 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540 ( map ).  

We recommend using the map link to get exact directions, as there are 4 Metro lines in two stations for access to the Jefferson Building.

The closest is  Capitol South ( Orange / Silver / Blue ), which is just a 5-minute walk. The other is  Union Station ( Red ), which is a 15-minute walk.

Learn more about riding the Metro with our guide .

Find and reserve available parking in the area with SpotHero .

You can also access the Library of Congress and bypass security if you're already in the Capitol Visitor Center.

There is a tunnel that connects the two buildings, allowing you to go to the Library of Congress without having to go back through security.

The tunnel will bring you to the basement level of the Library, where you'll also find the Visitor Desk and the start of their guided docent-led tours.

As with most buildings in D.C., expect to go through security. You can find their exact guidelines here.

There is no eating or drinking allowed in the building, though visitors are allowed to enter as long as any food or drink is stored in a bag.

Photography is allowed in most of the building, though there is no flash photography allowed in the Bibles, the Reading Room, and the Jefferson Room.

If you're visiting the U.S. Capitol Building first, you do not need to go through security again at the Library of Congress, if you take the access tunnel that connects both.  

Do note that food and drink are not permitted in the Capitol.

Things to do Nearby

The Library of Congress is part of Capitol Hill, so make a half-day of it and also visit:

• United States Capitol Building
• Supreme Court Building

You're also walking distance from Union Station, where you'll find a nearby Metro Station and a food court for quick meal options.

It's a beautiful building in its own right, so take our self-guided tour of the building while you're at it.

About a 10-minute walk along Pennsylvania Ave, you'll find Eastern Market.

It is one of our favorite neighborhoods to explore local restaurants, or join our Eastern Market Food Tour !

TOURS OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The Library of Congress offers tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building, including guided, self-guided, and virtual tours.

Take a Guided tour with us!

Our Capitol Hill & Library of Congress tour with VisitDC tours included ticketed access and a guided tour of the interior of the Library of Congress.

Official Guided Tours

These are the official tours that visitors enjoy on most days of the week.

This free general tour covers the art and architecture of the Jefferson Building, including a view into the main reading room, as well as the history and purpose of the library itself.

Each tour lasts 1 hour and takes place every day, except Sundays. Tours depart from the ground floor information desk.

Reserved Group Tours

The Library also offers special docent-led tours to groups of 10 or more.

These tours must be prearranged by calling the Visitor Services Office: at (202) 707-8000 or emailing them at [email protected].

The reserved group tours include:

• Thomas Jefferson: The Man and His Ideas
• Music and Performing Arts
• Exploring the Early Americas

Self-Guided and Online Tours

Below, we have provided our extensive self-guided tour of the interior and exterior of the Jefferson Building.

The library itself offers an offer an online tou r, though we recommend using our self-guided tour below.

On-site, visitors can find interactive touch-screen displays that explain what is in view of the visitor.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Once you pass security, the first major room is the Great Hall. As you enter the Great Hall, you'll immediately look up.

This interior section of the building is nearly double the height of the entrance hall.

The works you see all around you are the efforts of 50 artists to contribute to the sculptures, paintings, and murals.

Scroll and zoom in to take a closer look at the Great Hall

Above you, look at the rose windows in the ceiling.

Most people assume that it is silver leaf surrounding the stained glass windows, but it is an aluminum leaf, which is more valuable at the time than silver leaf.

The various single names you see inscribed on the ceiling throughout the building are the last names of authors who have made great contributions to literature.

The first one most people spot is Bacon!

Below you are the symbols of the zodiac signs surrounding a brass inlay of the sun in the center.

Look at the staircases on either side of the Great Hall. Along the outside of each banister, you'll see " putti " which was popular during the Italian Renaissance.

These figures each represent a different profession or hobby that was popular in American life at the time of construction.

If you look closely at these little boys, each is holding an attribute of their profession.

A mechanic holds a wrench, an artist holds a paintbrush, and an etymologist holds a butterfly net.

See if you can figure out what jobs are portrayed by looking at each of the items held by the putti .

The original idea was to put sculptures of adult men holding these symbols of professions but the proportions did not work out as well within the banister as the putti. 

In the center of each banister at each side, the theme of the entire library is once again represented: the universality of knowledge.

On either side of the globe, figures represent the Americas and Africa on one side with a view of these continents on the globe they hold and a view of Europe and Asia on the opposite side of the Great Hall.

The Bible Collection

View a rare, perfect copy of the Gutenberg Bible (the first Bible printed using the printing press).

Here you can view a bible from the 1400s Germany.

See how the typeface of the printed Gutenberg Bible is similar to handwriting? They didn't have Times New Roman back then!

Once you've seen those, head upstairs to the upper level of the Great Hall. 

Note the groves worn into the marble steps from more than a century of fellow travelers and researchers.

On the east side of the building, you'll see a set of steps leading up to the Main Reading Room Overlook.

The Main Reading Room

Though technically not an exhibit, this is certainly a spectacle that should not be missed during your visit to Washington, DC.

Have you seen National Treasure 2?

This is the room that hides the Presidential Book of Secrets (we can neither confirm nor deny that it is really there.)

To view the Main Reading Room, you can access the overlook from the second level of the Jefferson building.

The Main Reading Room will be open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 pm to 3 pm Tuesday-Friday.

A set of stairs in the back leads to a small walk-through so you can have a peek into this beautiful room.

The library discourages flash photography and talking in the walk-through as there are often researchers below.

During busy times, a staff member is on hand to monitor the line but otherwise, just head up the steps and stay to the right!

As you head up the stairs toward the viewing platform, you will be greeted by a large mosaic of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, holding a list of fields of study and accompanied by an animal we all associate with wisdom: the owl.

Inside the Main Reading Room, look up towards the dome.

The personification of Human Understanding is surrounded by twelve figures that represent the various cultures that have contributed to the universality of knowledge.

• Egypt represents Written Records.
• Judea represents Religion.
• Greece represents Philosophy.
• Rome represents Administration.
• Islam represents Physics.
• The Middle Ages represent Modern Languages.
• Italy represents Fine Arts.
• Germany represents the Art of Printing.
• Spain represents Discovery.
• England represents Literature.
• France represents Emancipation.
• America represents Science.

The bronze statues depict men who have contributed to:

• Religion : Saint Paul the Apostle ( a leader of the first generation of Christians) and Moses ( Hebrew prophet, teacher, and leader)
• Commerce : Christopher Columbus ( explorer and navigator who helped open the Americas to European colonization ) and Robert Fulton ( American engineer and inventor known for the steam-powered engine )
• History : Edward Gibbon ( author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) and Herodotus (Greek author of the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world, the History of the Greco-Persian Wars )
• Art : Ludwig van Beethoven ( German composer and musician between the Classical and Romantic periods. and Michelangelo ( Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet )
• Philosophy : Plato ( Ancient Greek philosopher ) and Francis Bacon (British lawyer, statesman, and philosopher)
• Poetry : William Shakespeare ( English poet, dramatist, and actor ) and Homer (the  supposed author of the Illiad and Odyssey )
• Law : Solon ( Athenian statesmen) and James Kent ( helped shape common laws of both the new United States and England )
• Science : Sir Isaac Newton ( English physicist and mathematician ) and Joseph Henry ( American scientist )

Want to see the Main Reading Room up close? A few times a year on certain holidays the Main Reading Room is open to visitors!

The Thomas Jefferson Building, an Italian Renaissance-inspired structure, opened in 1897 to great renown.

When people visited Washington, they didn't write home about the Capitol Building or the White House, instead, they wrote home about the Library of Congress.

In many ways, the grandiosity of the building was an attempt (and a successful one) to prove America's strength in science, literature, and the arts - subjects that European countries had been dominating for hundreds of years.

For example, the building's dome, which is topped with the "Torch of Learning," is plated in 23-carat gold.

The art featured in the building is meant to showcase human achievement.

However, it also reveals the prejudice of the time, as most of the great thinkers featured throughout the building are male and Westerners.

However, representing the universality of knowledge, there are also thirty-three ethnological heads, which show a wide variety of countries and cultures, that surround the exterior of the building.

As you move to walk up the steps, take a moment to view the fountain on the road level.

This fountain of Neptune, the Roman God of the Sea. His sister, Minerva, is featured inside the building.

The king is surrounded by his court with his sons, the Tritons, and horses, symbolizing water.

He protects the sea of knowledge that is the Library of Congress' collections behind him.

The grand figure of Neptune would be 12 feet tall if he were standing!

While the fountain is not always on, the wavy lines of the sculptures do mimic the flowing of the water.

A particular favorite is the "spitting" turtles at the front of the fountain.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

There are permanent and rotating exhibits at the Library of Congress, and now there are also ones you can view virtually:

• Rosa Parks In Her Own Words
• Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote
• Comic Art: 120 Years of Panels and Pages

PERMANENT EXHIBITS

Thomas Jefferson Library Collection

On the upper level of the Great Hall, you'll find the Thomas Jefferson Collection in the south gallery.

The actual collection is in the back room so you will have to walk through one of the Library's rotating exhibits to get to it.

A must-see while visiting the Library of Congress is the collection of Thomas Jefferson.

After the Burning of Washington in 1814, the original library collection was destroyed.

Jefferson sold his 6,487 books to create a new collection but his was different - it included a Latin translation of Euclid's Geometry and a book on beekeeping.

He said that there was no topic that one day Congress might not need.

His collection is circular and you can imagine Jefferson at his desk in his swivel chair surrounded by his books.

They are organized into three categories: Memory, Reason, and Imagination, as directed by Jefferson.

He, however, arranged his books on each shelf by size.

When you're viewing the books, they are not all originals owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Nearly two-thirds were lost in another fire but the Library was able to recreate the collection. Look closely at each book and you'll see a tag sticking out of the pages on the top.

• Gold : original to Jefferson Collection
• Green : purchased by the Library, but same year and edition as Jeffersons'
• Call Number/No Tag: was already in the Library collection, but the same year and edition as Jeffersons'
• No Book: They are still looking for one! Have any 18th c. books at home?

Mapping A Growing Nation: From Independence to Statehood  - North Gallery - First Floor.

Abel Bu ell’s New and Correct Map of the United States of North America is the first map of the newly independent United States compiled, printed, and published in America by an American. Learn more .

ROTATING EXHIBITS

Geppi Gems - Graphic Arts Galleries, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building

Highlights from the closed Geppi Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, the aim of this exhibit show how comics are a part of modern entertainment.

You'll see items including Walt Disney’s iconic characters, westerns, superheroes, science fiction, horror, sports, music, and entertainment.

Not An Ostrich: And Other Images from America's Library - Southwest Gallery, Thomas Jefferson Building

This exhibit explores photography from daguerreotypes to contemporary digital technology.

The earliest exhibit is from 1839.

From the collection of photographs at the Library of Congress, these curated pieces show you unfamiliar people and places and some offer a different view of popular events and themes.

View All Pieces from the Exhibit

HOW TO GET A LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LIBRARY CARD

Visitors can obtain a library card at the reader registration station in Room LM-140 of the Madison Building.

This building is across Independence Ave from the Jefferson Building.

You will also have to go through security to enter this building. Room LM 140 is on the ground level to the left of security.

Must be 16 years old or older, have a valid driver's license or passport, and complete a brief registration process to qualify.

HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country.

When the capital officially moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., President John Adams signed an act that stipulated that a library be made available to Congress and that a "suitable apartment" be created to contain it.

Thus, $5,000 was appropriated by Congress to establish the Library of Congress, which was originally housed in the Capitol Building.

However, in 1814, British troops arrived in Washington, D.C. with the intention of destroying the capital city.

The Capitol Building was burned, and all of the books in the Library of Congress were lost with it.

Shortly thereafter, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his entire collection -- over 6,000 books -- to the U.S. government to establish a new Library of Congress.

His collection caused some controversy; Jefferson's library included books in foreign languages, as well as books on philosophy, science, and mathematics.

Yet, Jefferson emphasized that "there is no subject to which a Member of Congress may not have occasion to refer."

The government eventually purchased his entire collection for $23,950.

In 1870, the size of the Library would increase dramatically as the Copyright Law was passed, requiring that all copyright applicants send 2 copies of their work to the Library of Congress.

The now rapidly growing collection required more space, and so Congress commissioned a new building, specifically dedicated for use by the Library, to be built.

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ALA President Launches Virtual Tour of U.S. Libraries

ALA Public Programs Office

On Monday, July 27, ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., kicked off a 12-stop virtual tour to spotlight how libraries of all kinds across the country are addressing the needs of their diverse communities and engaging stakeholders to advocate for libraries. The 10-day Holding Space tour began at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and will end at the Hawaii State Library on Friday, August 7.

At each stop on the tour, Jefferson will meet with library leaders, state and local partners, elected officials and other community influencers to cover a vast terrain of issues facing a broad range of institutions, including libraries at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, other academic libraries, school libraries, Tribal libraries and public libraries.

Holding Space tour stops include:

• July 27, 10 a.m. CT:  Tour kickoff at the Library of Congress , Washington, D.C. Holding Space: A National Conversation Series with Libraries
• July 27, 1 p.m. CT:  Stronger Together for Workforce Development , Cambria County Library, Penn
• July 28, 12 p.m. CT:  Keeping Communities Connected in Ohio and Beyond , Muskingum County Library, Ohio 
• July 29, 1 p.m. CT:  Leveraging Place to Engage Community , Nashville Public Library, Tenn. 
• July 30, 2 p.m. CT:  Strengthening Communities and Developing Leaders at HBCU Libraries , University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Ark.
• July 31, 2 p.m. CT:  Learning in Many Dimensions with Texas School Librarians , Lubbock ISD, Texas 
• August 3, 1 p.m. CT:  Partnering to Advance Career and Workforce Development , Pioneer Public Library, Okla. 
• August 4, 2 p.m. CT:  The Imperative of Broadband for Tribal Libraries , Santo Domingo Pueblo Library, N.M. 
• August 5, 3 p.m. CT:  From Interior to Border: Libraries Reaching Rural Communities , Cordes Lake Public Library, Ariz.
• August 6, 1 p.m. CT:  Learn and Earn: Nevada Libraries Harness Virtual 3-D for Education and Careers , Nevada State Library, Nev. 
• August 7, 2:30 p.m. CT:  Listen to the Kids: Youth- and Family-Centered Practices at Oakland Public Library , Oakland Public Library, Calif. 
• August 7, 4 p.m. CT:  Spirit of Aloha: Hawaii Libraries Light the Path , Closing celebration in Hawaii 

“Collectively, these conversations are an opportunity for ALA to listen and learn as well elevate the innovative work of the 12 libraries I visit,” said Jefferson. “Originally, I’d envisioned a bus tour, a sort of library celebration on wheels. But this virtual format allows us to critically examine our cultural moment through the lens of the most pressing issues in our profession.”

Each community discussion will explore local and national solutions to local and national issues and feature deep dives into an area of library service, including workforce development programs, children and family services, outreach to rural residents, and broadband for Tribal communities. Jefferson will also invite tour participants to join ALA’s campaign urging members of Congress to support the Library Stabilization Fund Act to protect the jobs of more than 366,000 library workers and the services that 116,000 libraries provide.

“Libraries are improving lives every day, providing internet access to underserved communities, helping people find jobs and build careers, empowering students as they develop literacy skills that will lead to lifelong learning,” said Jefferson. “Many of these successes take place in the shadows. Their stories need to be told, their professional organization and local community need to listen, and their elected leaders need to support them.”

For more information on tour stops and directions for joining the conversation, visit http://www.ala.org/advocacy/holding-space .

ALA User Menu

• ALA Websites

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• Contact Congress

Arrange a Congressional Tour of Your Library

• Share This Page

Invite your member of Congress or elected official to a virtual tour of your library - raise awareness and build a relationship to help cultivate a library champion. You can use our checklist for planning a virtual tour  or an in-person tour , and watch an example tour hosted by Clinton-Macomb Public Library's Larry Neal, featuring Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI-9). You can also check out another example tour hosted by Loudoun County Public library, featuring Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10).

Download In-Person Visit Checklist

Download Virtual Visit Checklist

Library of Congress Guided Tour

• Local guide
• Independence Ave SE & 1st St SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA Meet tour guide at Corner of First Street and Independence Avenue SE. Across the Street from the US Capitol Building
• 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20543, USA Tour ends at the Ground Floor of the Library of Congress
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at Independence Ave SE & 1st St SE Washington, DC 20540, USA Meet tour guide at Corner of First Street and Independence Avenue SE. Across the Street from the US Capitol Building See address & details
• 1 Library of Congress Stop: 20 minutes See details
• 2 Library of Congress Stop: 2 hours See details
• You'll end at 101 Independence Ave SE 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20543, USA Tour ends at the Ground Floor of the Library of Congress See address & details

• GRANDMABMF 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend. This was a wonderful experience and we learned so much about the impressionist art, art period and artists. It was very informative. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and she answered all our questions. I really liked the way she not only described the paintings and sculpture but provided the historical context and background of the artists. Highly recommend. Look forward to attending another tour. Read more Written June 5, 2022
• Ceeldub 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful virtual art tours The virtual tours provided by Street Art Museum Tours have been wonderful! Tours such as Van Gogh, Dutch Masters, Spring/Fall/Halloween art, Gladiators, Roman Architecture, Washington monuments, women impressionists, great masters, contemporary art, Rembrandt, sacred art, Edgar Allen Poe stories readings, such a variety and all wonderful! The tour guides are well prepared, knowledgeable, witty, professional, and personable. Excellent!!!!! Read more Written October 24, 2021
• kathieb908 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful experience The Spring and Summer art tour was wonderful. The presenter was very knowledgeable and made the information interesting. The pace of the presentation was excellent. I was thoroughly enthralled with looking at the paintings. Read more Written May 30, 2021
• elisesmom2016 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience! This was a great way to get an introduction to the national gallery of art. We would have been completely overwhelmed on our own. Not to mention that the guide clearly knew his stuff. He gave the backstories for each piece he discussed and pointed out details that I would never have noticed. Read more Written January 12, 2020
• abotsford 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour of East Building I really enjoyed this tour, Stephen is very knowledgeable and I learned some new things about Modern Art, and it's a complete tour of the building which in itself is a work of art. I've been several times and saw things I've never seen! And the length of tour is just right! Read more Written October 28, 2019
• MaVeN369 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Tour, Well Informed Tour Guide!! We had a wonderfully enlightening tour at the National Gallery of Art Renaissance to Impressionism. My husband, son, daughter, and grandmother all enjoyed this tour. Our highly skilled tour guide was the consummate professional; he educated us regarding the subtle nuances of various Masters of impressionism. He managed to capture the attention and pique the interest of teenagers and elders alike! #HighlyRecommended Read more Written October 8, 2019
• ChrisSheer 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Horrible Scam tour of the National African American History Museum in DC Adventures for Creative Tourists scammed me and at least 7 other tourists coming to DC to receive a guided tour of the National Museum of African American History. We paid $60 plus fees for the tour which was supposed to go from 10am-1pm. The tour guide Emmanuel, was unorganized from the start. He did get us in the museum, but it took us at least 15 minutes to get started. We begin the tour and he seems informative, but 15 minutes into the tour we are stopped by security who informs Emmanuel NO OUTSIDE TOUR GUIDES ARE ALLOWED! This delays our tour another 10 minutes until we are informed he can no longer give us a tour, but would stay and answer questions. Well, that is NOT a "guided" tour. The individuals in our group went and did their own thing, so Emmanuel chose to follow a few and left the rest of us. I never saw Emmanuel again. I will never again book a tour with this company and neither should you! Read more Written August 16, 2019
• percy591 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Tour Don't Miss Out This was a great tour for our family to take. He was very engaging and fun to listen to. You can tell that he loved the art that he was talking about. He showed different symbols and what the artists were trying to communicate that I never knew before hand. The kids got a little extra education on our vacation. Well done. Will come back for more. Read more Written August 15, 2019
• FemaleSoloTrek_Terri 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles I love DCMurals! Our fantastic guide Ella gave us a whirlwind tour of over 15 murals in the U Street Corridor. I doubt I would have ever found this fantastic street art without her guidance. She provided background on the mural artists (muralists), the inspiration for the paintings and the DC initiative to stop graffiti. It would be impossible to choose my favorite mural as I loved them all. I am writing an article for FemaleSoloTrek because I am fascinated by the U Street Corridor! It is such a historically significant DC neighbor. Its nickname is Black Broadway. Read more Written April 19, 2019
• Seaside784353 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour of African American murals on U Streey Excellent guide. She knew the history of the area by heart. Started at the African American Civil War Memorial and took us from murals of famous jazz players to Ben’s Chili Bowl commisioned portraits of the Obamas and others. I highly recommend this tour. Read more Written April 7, 2019
• Katetraveller100 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour at the national gallery of art An enlightening and absorbing tour of this museum . Instead of drifting through and nodding at the art we were given an opportunity to learn about the stories behind the picture. Excellent tour by Stephen Mead. Would thoroughly recommend this. Read more Written March 31, 2019
• Douglas S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Intro Tour to African Art Museum Great way to tour the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Saw that 2 people reviewed this as "terrible." Don't know what tour they were seeing, because my wife and I thought it was excellent. Emmanuel Gogo, a native African now living in DC, had a great depth of knowledge not only about many of the art pieces in the museum, which he showed and explained to us, but also about the contexts in which the art works, and sometimes craft works, arose and thus could be better understood. We found his guidance to be not only art historical but also anthropological. Highly recommend him. Read more Written September 16, 2018
• jeandimeoeditor 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Renaissance and Impressionism Tour Stephen Mead was a wonderful tour guide. He showed the group a nice variety of Renaissance art work and a few pieces by Impressionist masters. He is very knowledge about the paintings he presented, and he had a great sense of humor, too. I highly recommend a tour with Stephen. Read more Written April 28, 2018
• Janice E 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Old Town Alexandria Tour Enjoyed a wonderful walking tour of Old Town Alexandria with Terri and Diane. Only suggestion is to hold up a sign for Meet Up as well as Adventures for Creative Tourists. Read more Written August 20, 2017
• Julie O 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private Old Town Alexandria tour The tour guide was friendly and knows a lot about the sites we visited. She also was very considerate and polite, and I could tell that she enjoys her work. This is my second tour with this company, and I will definitely use them again for tours. Read more Written August 19, 2017

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