Can You Solve It? Attend Family Mystery Day On October 21

This post was written by Dianne Choie, Educational Programs Specialist at the Library of Congress.

Calling all detectives, from middle-grade readers to young adult book fans! You are invited to Can You Solve It? Family Mystery Day at the Library of Congress on Saturday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. The event is free, but tickets for building entry are required. Read on for details of the top-secret cases we have for you to crack.

A poster with the words "Charles Frohman Presents: William Gelette in his new four-act drama Sherlock Holmes" featuring a man sitting at a table illuminated by a gas light. The man wears a suit and a hat and is smoking a cigar. — Promotional poster for the play “Sherlock Holmes” by William Gillette, 1900. (Performing Arts Posters Collection, Prints and Photographs/Library of Congress).

The Spooky Things Just Out of Sight with Jerry Spinelli and Ben Hatke. 11:00 a.m. in Coolidge Auditorium. Hear these bestselling authors discuss their new mysterious middle grade novels, and their process for writing spooky stories.
Locked Rooms and Deadly Heists: Mysteries with a Twist with Young Adult (YA) authors Delilah S. Dawson and Kayvion Lewis. 2:00 p.m. in Room LJ119. Learn about building suspense and creating thrills from two authors who write tense YA tales. Followed by:
For Aspiring Authors: sharpen your own skills at building baffling intrigue in a mystery writing workshop with our YA authors.

Please Note: All writers featured during the day will sign their books on the Mezzanine level of the Great Hall following their program. Featured books will be available for purchase.

Navy Department, U.S. Intelligence Bureau, Fingerprint Department Clerk, Marie S. Dahm. (Harris & Ewing, Prints and Photographs/Library of Congress)

Crack Challenging Codes, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. in the Great Hall Mezzanine. Decode different puzzles and use ciphers to create your own encrypted messages to communicate secretly with trusted informants.
Don Dapper Disguises, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Great Hall Mezzanine. Transform yourself with disguises from the Library of Congress’s collections that will keep you hidden in plain sight.
Start a Suspenseful Search, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. throughout the Jefferson Building (begin in the Great Hall Mezzanine). Visit locations all around the building to explore the collections, learn about the Library and much more.

A black and white photograph of a woman in a fancy dress and hat sitting at a desk. — Woman at Desk, 1923. (Harris & Ewing collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)

Special notes for expert gumshoes: Free timed entry passes are required for building entry. A limited number of passes may be available for same day visits, but true detectives know that advance reservations are the best preparation for any investigation! ADA accommodations can be requested five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

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