Library of Congress

Travel Washington DC and stay at Phoenix Park Hotel, a Celtic-inspired Washington DC boutique hotel offering luxurious, richly-appointed accommodations in the heart of the capital city. As a premier destination among downtown Washington DC hotels, the Phoenix Park Hotel provides convenient access to numerous Washington DC tourist sites and intriguing things to do.

Located less than one mile from our historic Washington DC hotel, guests can pay a visit to the Washington DC Library of Congress, the largest library in the world and the United States' oldest federal cultural institution. A staff of more than 4,000 serves around one million visitors each year. This library serves as the research branch of Congress and encompasses three buildings on Capitol Hill. The original US Library of Congress was located inside the U.S. Capitol and the first separate building is The Thomas Jefferson Building, built in 1897. The John Adams building was added in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building was opened in 1981.

The Library consists of more than 134 million items occupying an impressive 530 miles of bookshelves. Its vast collection includes more than 32 million books and printed materials, 12.5 million photographs, 5.3 million maps, 2.8 million recordings, 5.5 million music items and 59.5 million manuscripts. Stop to view a 12-minute introductory film in the Visitors' Center of the Jefferson Building. Take a free guided tour of the Main Reading Room and Great Hall, rent an audio tour or enjoy a self-paced tour with the assistance of a brochure. Click on the image below for more information.