Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

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Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

The oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings, the Thomas Jefferson Building was built between 1890 and 1897. It is known for its classicizing facade and elaborately decorated interior. John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz, who won the competition for the architectural plans of the library in 1873, continued developing the design until final submission in 1892 at which point it was turned over to Edward Pearce Casey. Casey was the son of Brig. Gen. Thomas Lincoln Casey, Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Library of Congress Building as it was at first known, is located on First Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street in Washington, DC.

The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and number of books. The head of the Library is the Librarian of Congress, currently James H. Billington.

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Photo 62, Nov 2011

Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

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The Library of Congress was built for Congress in 1800, and was housed in the United States Capitol for most of the 19th century. After much of the original collection had been destroyed during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson sold 6,487 books, his entire personal collection, to the library in 1815. After a period of decline during the mid-19th century the Library of Congress began to grow rapidly in both size and importance after the American Civil War, culminating in the construction of a separate library building and the transference of all copyright deposit holdings to the Library. During the rapid expansion of the 20th century the Library of Congress assumed a preeminent public role, becoming a "library of last resort" and expanding its mission for the benefit of scholars and the American people.

The Library's primary mission is researching inquiries made by members of Congress through the Congressional Research Service. Although it is open to the public, only Members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials may check out books.

Photo 63, Nov 2011

Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

The Court of Neptune Fountain on the West Front

The Fountain was installed in front of the Library of Congress in 1897-1898. Designed by Roland Hinton Perry, the fountain consists of a 50-foot wide semicircular granite basin set in a retaining wall flanked by a set of stairs. Within the retaining wall, there are three large niches. A 12-foot Neptune, king of the sea, sits on a rock in the middle niche. Neptune is flanked by his sons, the tritons, mythological gods characterized by figures with the torsos of men and the fins of fishes. The tritons blow on conch shells like trumpets. In the niches on either side of Neptune, is a nymph riding a wild sea horse. Out in the basin four turtles, two frogs, and a sea serpent spray water. On the retaining wall, just above the niches, are reliefs of dolphins and stalactites. Albert Weinert was responsible for the reliefs of dolphins and stalactites carved on the retaining wall.

Photo 66, Nov 2011

Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building
Detail of statues

A 12-foot Neptune, king of the sea, sits on a rock in the middle niche. Neptune is flanked by his sons, the tritons, mythological gods characterized by figures with the torsos of men and the fins of fishes. The tritons blow on conch shells like trumpets.

Photo 68, Nov 2011