One of the world's largest libraries is this Washington, D.C. institution containing 134 million books, photographs, maps, drawings, recordings and other items. The Library of Congress was established in 1800 after the U.S. President James Madison proposed the idea in 1783. It is the research arm of U.S. Congress and the oldest cultural institution in the country. Notable library selections include Thomas Jefferson's personal library, the Gutenberg Bible and a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Show All
