Founded in 1800 as a small library for Congress, the Library of Congress became the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and one of the world’s largest libraries. Its growth was shaped by repeated destruction and rebuilding after fires in 1814 and 1851, and by the 1815 purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, which broadened its purpose beyond legislative reference. After the Civil War, especially under Ainsworth Rand Spofford, it expanded into a national research institution. Copyright deposit, major acquisitions, and new Capitol Hill buildings helped fuel that rise. Today it serves Congress, administers federal copyright, supports public research, and preserves a vast multilingual collection.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Washington, District of Columbia · USA