TOUR: Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress

Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress, Private Guided Tour
10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC
Monday, November 9, 2026 
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration Required 

Experience the Library of Congress as few visitors do. OLLI has been invited for a private, docent-led tour of the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building on a Monday, when the Library is closed to the public.

Opened in 1897 as a grand “palace for the people,” the Jefferson Building is a dazzling celebration of art, architecture, and knowledge. Our guide will bring its stories and symbolism to life as we explore its celebrated public spaces and venture into areas normally closed to visitors.

This is a popular tour. If you register and are then unable to attend, please contact the OLLI office at [email protected] or 202-895-4860. There will likely be a waitlist and someone could be offered the open spot. 

A Private Look Inside
Our tour begins in the breathtaking Great Hall, where our guide will explain the building’s architecture, artistic details, and richly layered symbolism. We will then enter the Main Reading Room for a rare close-up view of one of Washington’s most impressive interiors and continue to the mezzanine for its magnificent overlook.

Along the way, we will discover treasures including the Library’s Gutenberg Bible—one of only three perfect vellum copies known to exist—and visit Thomas Jefferson’s personal library. Jefferson sold his collection to Congress in 1815 after the original Library was destroyed during the War of 1812. Today, the display reveals which volumes belonged to Jefferson and which were later acquired to replace books lost in an 1851 fire.

The experience concludes with an especially intriguing privilege: our guide will take us into additional areas of the Library that are not open to the general public, offering a fuller and more intimate view of this extraordinary national landmark. After the tour, members are welcome to remain in the building to enjoy the current exhibitions and revisit the public spaces at their own pace. Space on this private tour is limited; early registration is encouraged. 

Pre-Register for a Reader Identification Card!
OLLI members and guests attending the tour are invited to pre-register for a reader card. Complete the online pre-registration form here and at least two weeks prior to the tour date. Bring a valid ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Library staff will take an identification photo, have you provide a digitized signature, and issue your card. Your Reader Identification Card is valid for two years.

Arrival and Check-In
Please plan to arrive no later than 10:15 AM at the visitor entrance of the Thomas Jefferson Building, below the stairs, located on First Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street. Please pass through Security and proceed to the Ground Floor Information Desk, do not wait outside. OLLI's tour coordinator, Elena Vejarano, and our library docent will meet you at the Information Desk. The building is ADA equipped for those who require assistance.

Directions to the Thomas Jefferson Building can be found here.