Thomas Jefferson loved books. To his friend, John Adams, he declared “I cannot live without books!” He was a voracious reader. When you visit his home at Monticello, you will not only see his library but you will also notice that he had several places set aside in multiple rooms in his home, where he could sit and read when time permitted.

The British burned down the Library of Congress in the War of 1812, along with several other buildings, like the President’s Mansion. Jefferson offered to sell his library to Congress to replace what they had lost. In 1815 Congress approved the purchase, and it took ten wagonloads to bring the books to Washington, DC!

Over a lifetime of collecting, Jefferson had assembled more than 6,700 volumes. This was the largest collection of books in America at that time, covering many different subjects.This was more than twice the number of books that the original Congressional Library contained. Congress paid less than half their value, $23,950.

Jefferson began collecting books all over again.

Unfortunately the library of Congress burned once again when two Congressmen left their unsafe candle and smoldering smoking material in the room that housed this new library. So Congress decided the library should have its own building.

The new building was named The Jefferson Building, after its principal benefactor.

”The Jefferson Building is a heroic setting for a national institution. Today it is generally recognized as a unique blending of art and architecture, a structure that celebrated the universality of knowledge and symbolizes American turn-of-the- century optimism. The elaborate embellishment of its interior is worth careful attention, for a few structures represents human thought and aspiration in such dramatic fashion.”

Save some time on your next trip to Washington, DC, for a visit to this most beautiful and grand building. You won’t be disappointed!