the three branches tour: legislative research in the library of congress (part 3 of 4)

right next to the supreme court on capitol hill is the more elaborate building that houses the library of congress, where staffers slave away for congressmen.


















it's been so far the best guided tour i did in dc. the hour-long walk was really helpful as the interior of the building abounds with all art has to offer: from ceiling paintings, mosaics, statues, frescoes, decorative led glass windows in the ceiling, hung paintings, inscriptions, valuable books, to decorative architecture.

it's a flood of impressions and everything bears a meaning: the muses here, the graces there, u.s. american sports in historic style, the seasons as women, a stair case lined with cherub frescoes depicting professions, labels that name the most important sciences and names of authors, builders, philosophers overarching the hallways. gold, marble, bronze. no single freckle is left unornamented as far as the eye can reach.

my favorite exhibit: the gutenberg bible, one of the thirty original bibles on vellum [Pergament] that gutenberg churned out on his newly constructed printing press. the sample is one of the only three gutenberg bibles on vellum that is still complete and in perfect condition. i wonder if that is the oldest piece in the building.

the highlight of the tour though was a walk-by peak over the main reading room from the visitor's gallery. this semi-circle hall furnished with heavy wooden desks just exudes sublime knowledge as individuals with access to the sanctum bent seriously over books pulled out of shelves that line the walls several stories high.











who goes up must come down, after descending from the balcony i checked out the obligatory the gift shop (also the most interesting so far) for affordable post cards. it's on the same basement level as the new tunnel that connects the slaving staffers with the presenting representatives.


















along the walls an old acquaintance elicited a smile from me.











popping out on the other side, another neat view of the most beautiful building i've seen so far in dc. my tour guide probably put it best when she said, it's like inside a fabergé egg.
if you only have one choice among congress, supreme court, and library of congress. pick the latter.

visit the other branches with me:

• the three branches tour: jurisdiction in the highest court (part 1 of 4)
• the three branches tour: legislating in the capitol (part 2 of 4)
• the three branches tour: white house taboo (part 4 of 4)