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Travel – Library of Congress (Part Three)

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The Library of Congress is such an interesting building and during my research there was so much information that I had to write three different posts concerning the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building.  In the first post that featured the Library of Congress, Library of Congress – Part One, I discussed the origin and history of the Library.  In the second post, Library of Congress – Part Two, I concentrated on the spectacular art and architectural details of the Thomas Jefferson Building and the grand Great Hall.  Because there is so much detail to the Jefferson Building, I wrote this third post about the famous Reading Room of the Library of Congress.

Having visited the Library of Congress on a trip to Washington in 2002, I became fascinated with the beauty of the art and architecture of the Jefferson Building.  There are so many details in the building and everything seems to have special meanings and symbolism designed to show America’s love of learning, science and culture.  The Library of Congress has been featured in several books; two books that I especially enjoyed were “The Collectors” by David Baldacci and “Murder at the Library of Congress by Margaret Truman.  In fact, the Reading Room is shown on the cover of “The Collectors” and that is the area of the Jefferson Building that will be the topic of this post.

The Reading Room is the highlight of the one-hour guided tour of the Library of Congress and can be seen from the Visitor’s Gallery.  The Library of Congress is open to the public for academic research and for access to the Reading Room with a portion of the Library’s vast collection visitors are required to apply for a Reader Identification Card which is issued in the nearby Madison building.  To apply for a Reader ID Card the person must be at least 16 years old, a United States Citizen and a government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card or passport, is required for valid identification purposes.  For more information about the Reader ID Card, please see the Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/visit/tours

Reading Room 2

Reading Room

The Reading Room is a large octagonal room located in the center of the Jefferson Building.  Upon entering the room, look up at the impressive dome ceiling which towers 125 feet from the main floor of the Reading Room.  The coffered dome is made of stucco which is attached to an iron and steel frame and is designed by sculptor Albert Weinert.  The dome decreases in size toward the opening at the center of the dome making the dome appear larger.  At the top is a circular area with a painting by Howland Blashfield that depicts the Evolution of Civilization and shows twelve large figures that represent the various countries around the world that have made important contributions to civilization.  An additional area of 35 feet rises to form the lantern area of the dome with eight windows and then another smaller shallow dome that covers the lantern area with an additional painting by Blashfield.  A separate exterior dome is built over the entire interior dome to protect it from being damaged.

Reading Room dome 1    Reading Room dome 2

Now, take a look around the large Reading Room.  At the edges of the room where several sets of columns form eight piers that support a series of arches that enclose the entire room.  The piers are set forward into the room by 10 feet creating a series of two-story alcoves that are behind large Italian marble screens.  Standing on top of the piers are eight almost 11 foot tall ivory white plaster statues that symbolically represent the important subjects needed to create and live a civilized life: religion, history, art, poetry, philosophy, law, science and commerce.  On the frieze below the statues each title is inscribed in gilded letters and each statue is shown holding the appropriate symbols and objects that pertain to the different subjects.

Reading Room - Statue of Law

Above the Reading Room alcoves and positioned along the balustrade are a series of sixteen bronze statues of men that have contributed important thoughts or actions that have effected civilization.  The statues are arranged in pairs that flank the piers dividing the alcoves and correspond with the eight important subjects on top the piers, such as Moses and Saint Paul for their contributions to religion, Herodotus and Gibbon for history, Michelangelo and Beethoven for art, Homer and Shakespeare for poetry, Plato and Lord Bacon for philosophy, Solon and Chancellor Kent for law, Newton and Joseph Henry for science and finally Columbus and Robert Fulton for commerce.

Reading Room statue - Michelangelo    Reading Room statue - Shakespeare

Also positioned between the piers are a series of eight semicircular stained-glass windows which measures 32 feet across at their base.  In the center of each window is the Great Seal of the United States and displayed following the curve of the window are to the right and the left are the seals of individual states and territories.  In between each seal is a torch and the top curve of the windows are surrounded by a border of laurel and rosettes.  In each window there are three seals on each side of the United States Seal; making six seals per window and multiplied by eight windows for a total of 48 seals.  The seals are listed in chronological order from the dates that they were added to the union.  At the time the three territories of New Mexico (1912), Arizona (1912) and Oklahoma (1907) were not officially states until the noted dates and Alaska (1959) did not become a state until much later.

Reading Room statues 1a

Finally, while standing in the Reading Room, look above the entrance passageway for a glimpse of the most ornate decorations in the Jefferson Building which is the John Flanagan clock.  This large bronze sculpture is a life-size version of Father Time who is carrying a scythe in one hand and on either side of him are maidens with children figurines that represent the four seasons of a year.  In keeping with the entire sculpture theme of measuring the passage of time, there is a four foot in diameter clock with a gilded sunburst and clock hands that are decorated with semiprecious stones.

Reading Room clock

As you can see from the description and pictures of the art and architecture of the Reading Room, and for that matter the entire Jefferson Building, immense thought went into the decorations of the Library of Congress to convey important themes that were needed to make our country, the United States of America, a strong and prosperous nation.

               

Travel – Library of Congress (Part Two)

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Library of CongressDuring a trip to Washington, D.C. in 2002 we were fortunate to visit the Library of Congress and it was a wonderful and fascinating experience.  There are four Library of Congress facilities located in Washington, D.C.  The Thomas Jefferson Building was completed in 1897, the John Adams Building in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980 and there is an Audio-Visual Conservation facility located on the Packard Campus in nearby Virginia.  The previous post, Library of Congress – Part One, I discussed the origin and history of the Library.  In this post I will concentrate on the spectacular art and architectural details of the Jefferson Building.  Because there is so much detail to the Thomas Jefferson Building, please check out the next post, Library of Congress – Part Three, which will discuss the famous Reading Room.

If you are planning a visit to Washington, D.C. we highly recommend the Library of Congress free one-hour guided tours of the historic Jefferson Building.  During the tour visitors will learn about the history and collections of the Library as well as the architecture and the meanings of the symbolic art displayed within the interior of the Jefferson Building.  The guided tours are available Monday through Saturday during the year and no prior reservations are required but visitors are advised to check in at the Ground Floor Information Deck.  Self-guides tours of the Jefferson Building and current exhibitions are also available during days that the building is open to the public. For more information, please check the Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/visit/tours

TRAVEL NOTE: At the time that we visited Washington and the Library of Congress Jefferson Building I had never seen a building with so many lovely architectural details and beautiful artwork, it was a truly a wonderful experience!  I could have stayed longer than the one hour guided tour because there were so many interesting details throughout the Jefferson Building.

The main building of the Library of Congress is the Jefferson Building, which is located near the United States Capitol Building.  The building is approximately 470 feet in length and 340 feet in depth and it is three stories in height and the facade is constructed of granite.  The floor plan is basically divided into four sections with an octagon shaped area, known as the Reading Room, at the intersection of the different sections known as pavilions.  Overhead in the Reading Room there is a large dome and on the exterior of the building the dome is topped with a symbolic gilded torch which is known as the “Torch of Learning”.

Library of Congress Torch of Learning

Outside on the west side of the Jefferson building is “The Court of Neptune” fountain created by sculptor Roland Hinton Perry.  The semicircular fountain extends to 50 feet wide with three niches that suggest sea grottos and in the center is the 12 foot tall bronze sculpture of the sea god Neptune and on either side are sea nymphs which appear to being riding sea-horses.  Additional sea creatures such as dolphins, frogs and turtles also appear in the fountain or behind on the granite walls and there are a series of water jets with more water flowing from the mouths of monstrous sea serpents.  At night the fountain is beautifully lighted.

Jefferson building exterior fountain

At the west side of the Jefferson Building, which is considered the main entrance, are three arched doorways with a set of impressive bronze doors created by Frederick MacMonnies.  The center door features two bas reliefs of women that represent the humanities and intellect.  The semi-circular bronze piece or lunette above the door shows the seated goddess Minerva and on either side of her are two winged cherubs set to carry out the printed word as her gift to mankind.  The west facade of the building rises to showcase a second story balcony with a series of windows which are marked above by the busts of nine of the world’s great writers.

Jefferson building main door

As visitors proceed into the Jefferson Building, they will pass through an elaborate entrance area or vestibule and then proceed into the Great Hall.  The grand Great Hall is a visual delight and there are a number of pieces of art and architecture with special meanings and symbolism designed to show America’s love of learning, science and culture.  First, take a look at the intricate marble flooring which contains several brass inlays in the elegant patterned design of red and yellow Italian marble.  In the center is a large sun marked with the four compass points that coincide with alignment of the building.  At the outer edges of the floor are twelve brass inlays representing the signs of the Zodiac and alternating brass inlays of floral rosettes which are all set in red French marble surrounded by a border of white Italian marble.

Great Hall 3

Standing at the entrance to the Great Hall and looking directing across the room is the Library’s Commemorative Arch which leads to the entrance of the Reading Room.  Large double marble columns flank both sides and above the arch are the words “Library of Congress” inscribed in large gilded letters.  Then, above that is another inscription cut into the marble which gives the information pertaining to the Thomas Jefferson Building with a list of the pertinent dates and architects involved in the construction.  While standing in the Great Hall, look up to see the beautiful cove ceiling which is highlighted by six stained-glass panels.  In addition, the ceiling is decorated with aluminum leaf, Italian-style paintings, paneled carvings and wonderful winged figures carved in plaster by Philip Martiny are also featured in the corners of the ceiling.

Great Hall ceiling 1Jefferson building interior 1

Now, before ascending to the second floor, take a look at the intricate figurines also by Philip Martiny that decorate the staircases found on either side of the Great Hall.  Two sets of figurines decorate the staircase buttresses; the south staircase features two cherubs representing America and Africa with a globe in between them showing the two continents and the north staircase features two cherubs representing Asia and Europe with the globe between them showing those two continents.  As the stairs ascend to the second floor take a look at a series of eight figurines on each of the staircase bannisters, the cherubs represent the various occupations and pursuits of life.  The south staircase features a mechanic signifying inventions, a hunter, a child holding a glass of wine, a farmer and a fisherman, a soldier represented by a child holding a gun, a chemist and a cook.  The north staircase features a gardener, an entomologist holding a specimen box, a student, a printer, a musician, a physician, an electrician and an astronomer.  At the top of the each staircase, the two balustrades feature a trio of cherubs, one set represents the arts of painting, architecture and sculpture and the other set represents literary topics of comedy, poetry and tragedy.  At the bottom of each staircase, standing on the newel posts are bronze female figurines holding an electrified torch light.  The figures are decorated in a classical style with laurel wreaths and draped clothing.

Great Hall 2

One final area adjacent to the Great Hall and located on the second floor is the entrance to the Visitor’s Gallery of the Main Reading Room.  After ascending another staircase and before entering the Visitor’s Gallery, is a magnificent marble mosaic by Elihu Vedder.  Located at top of the staircase landing is a 15 feet high and 9 feet wide arched panel which features Minerva, the goddess of peace and the guardian of civilization.  In the mosaic she is depicted as former warrior who has set aside her armor after a victorious battle and she is now looking towards prosperity but is still prepared to protect her country and holds a staff in one hand as she stands vigil against any future enemies.  In the right lower portion is a small statue of Victory which is shown as a winged woman standing on a small globe.  In Minerva’s other hand she hold a scroll with the long list of subjects that are needed for a society to flourish, such as Law, Statistics, Sociology, Philosophy, etc.

Minerva mosaic

As visitors pass through the doors at the top of the stairs, they will enter into the Visitor’s Gallery that overlooks the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress.  In the next post, Library of Congress – Part Three, I will discuss the art and architecture of the famous Reading Room.

After viewing the Reading Room, I encourage visitors to explore the second floor where there are even more beautiful decorations along the corridors and in the various rooms.  Unfortunately, the art and architecture on this floor are too numerous to mention but if you are interested in further details of these areas of the Thomas Jefferson Building, I would highly recommend a visit to the Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov/visit/tours for additional information and photos.  Another source of information about the history, art and architecture of the Library of Congress is a wonderful book, “The Library of Congress – the Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building”, published by W.W. Norton and Company.

Travel – Library of Congress (Part One)

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On a visit to Washington, D.C. in 2002 I fell in love with the Library of Congress building.  The building was unlike anything I had ever seen before, the architecture and interior decorations were beautifully detailed.  In researching the topic, there is so much information about the Library of Congress that there will be three separate posts.  In the first post I will examine the origin and history of the Library of Congress. In the second post, Library of Congress – Part Two, I will go into more detail about some of the interesting features of the Thomas Jefferson Building’s exterior and parts of the interior. Because there is so much detail to the building, please check out an additional post, Library of Congress – Part Three, which will discuss the famous Reading Room.

A brief history of the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the main research library for the United States Congress and is considered one of the largest libraries in the world.  Although the library is open to the public for general research purposes, only members of Congress, the Supreme Court justices and high-ranking government officials may check out the books.

In 1800, President John Adams signed an Act of Congress designating that the seat of the United States federal government would be moved from Philadelphia, PA and relocated to the new capital city of Washington.  As part of the legislation, $5000 was intended for the purchase of books that would be necessary for the use of the United States Congress.  740 books and 3 maps were ordered from London, England and a new research library was established and conveniently located in a special room within the United States Capitol building.

Later, Thomas Jefferson was to play an important role in the history of the Library of Congress.  In 1802, President Jefferson signed into law legislation to establish a permanent building for the Library of Congress and also a permanent Librarian of Congress was appointed to oversee and regulate the administration of the Library.  Unfortunately, before the structure could be built, invading British forces during the War of 1812 set fire to the city of Washington.  At the time the small library of 3,000 books was still located in the Capitol building and much of the collection was destroyed.

To recover from the loss, the now former President Jefferson offered his entire personal collection of 6,487 books to the United States government to replace the damaged books for the Library of Congress.  Jefferson had acquired his vast collection of books over a period of 50 years and the books covered such topics as literature, philosophy, science and architecture including many foreign language books.  By 1817, Congress had officially accepted the generous offer from Jefferson and the books were sold for $23,950.

Plans were now needed to build a permanent structure for the Library of Congress and a design competition was held and the winning architects were John Smithmeyer and Paul Pelz.  Construction started on the new building in 1890 and by 1897 it was  completed at a cost of almost $6.5 million dollars and it eventually became known as the Thomas Jefferson Building.  Over the years as the Library’s collection and administration staff grew and more buildings were added, the John Adams Building was completed in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980.  In addition, there is an Audio-Visual Conservation facility of the Library of Congress located on the Packard Campus in Virginia.

Jefferson building construction

Great Hall construction    Reading Room construction

Currently, the Library of Congress collections includes more than 32 million books and other printed materials in 470 different languages.   The Library has one the largest rare book collections in North America with items such as a draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg Bible.  In addition, the Library has over 1 million issues from the past three centuries of newspapers from around the world, over 5 million maps, 120,000 comic book issues, 6 million items of sheet music, 3 million sound recordings and over 14 million prints and photographic images.  The Library of Congress estimates that their collections fill over 830 miles of bookshelves.

Library of Congress bookshelves 2    Library of Congress bookshelves 1

The Library is also a base for the United States Copyright Office and holds records for both copyright registration and protection.  All publishers are required to submit two copies of their published books and nearly 22,000 of these new publications arrive at the Library every day.  The Library does not keep all of these items but trades with other libraries around the world or donates them to schools or city & state libraries within the United States.  In addition, on the average 10,000 new items such as newspaper, magazines, maps or prints are also received daily.

The Library of Congress is open to the public for academic research and for access to the Reading Room and the Library’s vast collection visitors are required to apply for a Reader Identification Card which is issued in the nearby Madison building.  To apply for a Reader ID Card the person must be at least 16 years old, a United States Citizen and a government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card or passport, is required for valid identification purposes.  For more information about the Reader ID Card, please see the Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/visit/tours

TRAVEL NOTE: During our visit to the Library of Congress we applied for a Reader’s ID card, it was a relatively short process and it is a really fun and free souvenir!!

Library of Congress reader ID card

The Library of Congress also offers free one-hour guided tours of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building Monday through Saturday during the year.  During the tour visitors will learn about the history and collections of the Library as well as the symbolic art and architecture of the spectacular Thomas Jefferson Building.  No prior reservations for the guided tours are required but when you arrive please check in at the Ground Floor Information Deck to meet the docents.  Self-guides tours of the building and current exhibitions are also available any time during days that the building is open. For more information, please check out the Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/visit/tours

Please check out the upcoming post, Library of Congress – Part Two, for more details about some of the interesting features of the beautiful Thomas Jefferson Building’s exterior and interior.