If you’re visiting Washington, DC there’s a few places you cannot miss, one being, the Library of Congress. Many call it the most beautiful building in the city. If you head inside, you’ll understand why.
It’s one of America’s Gilded Age jewels. The Library is more than simply a stack of dusty books. It’s a place to learn, reflect, and increase in knowledge by interacting with items old and new that span all areas of creative production.
To give visitor's a chance to sample some of the millions items housed in the collection the Library of Congress hosts exhibits and events throughout the year for locals and visitors alike. This year, we are excited to announce the new exhibit The Two Georges, which reflects on the life of George Washington and King George III of England.
Read on to find out more about this exhibit opening at the Library of Congress in 2025. It’s one you don’t want to miss!
What and where is the Library of Congress
The largest library in the world, the Library of Congress, serves both the federal government and the people of the United States. It is located across from the Capitol building and on the South East of the Supreme Court.
The Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building in particular stands out in contrast to its Neoclassical neighbors. It is decorative and highly ornate, built in the style most conducive to the Gilded Age of American history. When you enter the building, you are not immediately greeted by books but a Great Hall of murals, mosaics, sculpture and inscriptions on every corner.
The library officially started in 1800 by order of John Adams. After the British burned the Capitol and the library’s collection in the war of 1812, the Library was re-founded using Thomas Jefferson’s personal collection. That collection was then built on with acquisitions and gifts to the Library.
What does the Library of Congress do
The Library has multiple functions. It originally was meant to serve as a resource for Congress. In July of 1870, the secretary at the time, Ainsworth Spofford wanted to increase the collection. So, he petitioned Congress to make the library the official copyright office of the United States. With that, the national library grew exponentially. Now its collection of books alone is over 40 million with 7,000 added to the collection everyday.
While the vast majority of the Library’s collections derive from copyright deposit, the Library has been the recipient of many gifts through the years including the papers of Abraham Lincoln, the archives of the NAACP and the Gershwin collection. Significant purchases include the Gutenberg Bible which is one of only four complete copies printed on vellum in the world.
In addition creating a world-leading collection, the Library continues to serve its main purpose which is to serve the research needs of Congress. The Congressional Research Service employs a staff of more than 600 employees across five research divisions to provide Congressional committees and individual Members with they information they need to create legislation.
How to visit the Library of Congress
Visiting the Library of Congress is more complicated than you might think. You need to go to their website and look for “Timed-Entry Tickets”. Library of Congress tickets are free but do require prior booking.
In order to access the building, you must enter at the lower level at a specified entrance. If you do not want to go through the hassle of booking your tickets, you can join the Capitol Hill Tour which is devoted 30-40 minutes exclusively to exploring the Library of Congress Jefferson Building.
Library of Congress New Exhibit
This spring 2025, the Library of Congress will host a new special exhibit in association with the Royal Collection Trust in Great Britain and the Science Museum, London. The exhibit, The Two Georges, will focus on George Washington and George III, the major players in the Revolutionary drama.
Since the National Archives did not exist until 1935, the Library of Congress became the logical place to deposit important documents such as presidential papers and even the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
While the founding documents eventually found their way into the National Archives rotunda, the presidential papers were never separated from the Library’s collections. Therefore, the Library still holds a wonderful collection of George Washington papers.
According to the Library of Congress: “The papers of army officer and first U.S. president George Washington (1732-1799) held in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress constitute the largest collection of original Washington papers in the world.” (About This Collection | George Washington Papers | Digital Collections | Library of Congress, n.d.)
They consist of approximately 77,000 items accumulated by Washington between 1745 and 1799, including correspondence, diaries, and financial and military records.
Documents include Washington’s:
Childhood education
First career as a surveyor
Experience as a militia colonel during the French and India War
Election as a Virginia Delegate
Role as a general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War
Presidency of the Constitutional Convention in 1787
Presidency of the United States
Retirement in Mount Vernon
These documents also include his management of Mount Vernon as well as correspondence with John Adams, Benedict Arnold, Edward Braddock, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette. The Library explains that, “His papers are a rich source for almost every aspect of colonial and early American life.”
While these papers remain popular among scholars and visitors, they are not often out on public display. The new exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to look at Washington’s handwriting, who he corresponded with and the content of these papers. These primary source materials are essential in understanding the complexities of the father of our nation.
But on the other hand, what about King George III? How mad was the King? Why did he hold so tightly to the colonies? Why not offer them representation? The addition of collections relating to George III will be a unique opportunity to look at the other side of the Revolution. Perhaps we will know the answers to these questions at last.
If you haven’t booked your Capitol Hill Tour for 2025, sign up today! You don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with The Two Georges and enjoy everything else there is to see in the Capitol and Library of Congress. This limited time exhibit is scheduled to open in March 2025 and will close in 2026 to allow the exhibit to be moved to London.
Don’t miss out on the new items coming soon!
As the grand Library of Congress gears up for its exciting new exhibit, The Two Georges, 2025 promises to be a year of historical exploration and discovery. Don’t miss your chance to dive into the world of George Washington and King George III, where you'll gain fresh insights into the Revolutionary War from both sides of the Atlantic.
With the exhibit only available for a limited time, now is the perfect moment to plan your visit and experience firsthand the rich history housed within the Library’s walls. Book your Capitol Hill tour today and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with some of America’s most pivotal historical moments.
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