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Posted by: Matt Raymond
There is so much history around this sprawling place that sometimes a milestone or two worth mentioning will slip beneath the radar. The Politico reported that yesterday (Nov. 1) was the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Library of Congress?s Thomas Jefferson Building on Capitol Hill (although the ?TJB? moniker wouldn?t come until many …
Posted in: History, New Visitors Experience, Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
While we prepare for the last long weekend of the summer ? or shop for school supplies ? let us pause to remember the historic significance of Labor Day and the men and women who fought for workers? rights. In 1894, Congress passed legislation making Labor Day ? the first Monday in September ? a …
Posted in: Events, History, LC Web site, Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
A partial image of page 1 of the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, with a gradient fade applied A couple of notes about recent TV appearances, and then an on-topic digression (which is after the jump). First of all, as previously mentioned, Dr. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, was the guest July 1 …
Posted in: Exhibitions, History, New Visitors Experience, News, Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
A rare opportunity surfaced the other day to go on a tour of the dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building, so ? as you might imagine ? I leapt on it in a heartbeat. Not only did it offer a unique vantage on Washington, D.C., (especially the Capitol across First Street, along with the Capitol …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington DC
Posted by: Matt Raymond
The “Swamp” blog of the Chicago Tribune’s Washington, D.C., bureau reports on the favored tourist destinations of Rep. Peter Roskam: In keeping with Roskam’s fiscally conservative credentials (and, to be fair, the general spirit of tourist attractions in Washington), everything on the list is free to enter. Among the highlights, with Roskam’s commentary: No. 3, …
Posted in: Capitol Hill, Congress, News, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington DC
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Speaking of “great halls,” I was just over in our very own Great Hall and thought that I would post a quick pic that I took. Such a gorgeous building — even a novice shutterbug like me can’t mess it up. You wouldn’t necessarily know it from this shot, but the place is teeming with …
Posted in: Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
John McArdle of Roll Call today writes the first story I have seen on the appropriations bill that is taking shape in the Legislative Branch subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.? (The link is here, but is subscription-only.) According to the article, the bill ?is expected to increase overall legislative branch spending by $251 million …
Posted in: Congress, News, Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Big night last night, big night tonight. Paul Simon was in the Great Hall last night to receive the first Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. His acceptance remarks were funny and humble. He touched on the moment when he was first inspired to write music: He was listening to the radio as …
Posted in: Music, News, Thomas Jefferson Building
Posted by: Matt Raymond
A few AP photos are starting to move from the event that ended barely an hour ago, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel formally transferred the 1507 Waldseemüller Map to the Library of Congress and the American people (represented by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer). You can see them here, here, here, here, here and …
Posted in: Congress, Events, Exhibitions, News, Thomas Jefferson Building