Walking through the Library of Congress is one of the most impressive things a citizen of the U.S. can do.  This place is beyond description.  The architecture, the richness of the elements used in this building, is like nothing that you or I have ever experienced. You can see some of this in the new movie release, National Treasures II, but even that will not even begin to capture the grandiose of this building.   Not even pictures can do justice.

The general public is not allowed to enter into the actual library part of this building.  You can only view it from windows and doors from the first and second floor.  But if you go to the James Madison Building across from the Capital (along Independce Street), you can get your own library card and then be allowed into the inner sanctuary. 

This is not your typical library – you can’t just browse and pick out any book you want to look at.  You have to know which book it is you want and request it by name. Then they will send for it from their miles of buildings that store the zillions of books they have. It can take a few hours or a few days for your requested book to be found.  Every book that is published has to be sent to this Library for copyright approval, so whatever book you are looking for can most likely be retrieved.  However, you can't check any books out - their not allowed to leave the library.  Get comfortable, find a spot, and read to your heart's content.

The next time we come to D.C., on Rachel’s list of things-to-do, is to get a library card.  I think I’ll get one, too - the secret key for admittance into the inner sanctuary of the U.S. Library of Congress.