Washington DC April 2010, post 3, Library of Congress and National Cathedral

Marcy and I spent Tuesday together. After driving around the Tidal Basin, we headed to the Library of Congress.  I had never been there nor at the National Cathedral where we made the next stop.

The Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, is housed in 3 buildings.  It was established in 1800 and after most of its original  books were destroyed in the War of 1812, Jefferson sold his entire personal library of 6400+ books to the government in 1815.  While the library can be used by anyone, only members of government can check out items. Today more than 10,000 new items are gathered by the library daily.

  National figures are carved into the building.  You can see Benjam  in Franklin in the center of this photo.

The main Jefferson building is stunning.  I had no idea that it was so beautiful.

  

We also enjoyed looking at an exhibit of documents from early America.

The National Cathedral is away from the center of town.  it is a cathedral of the Episcopal church.  Congress has designated it as the "national house of prayer" and more secular services have been held here too, such as a memorial service for the victims of 9/11.

Front of the Cathedral.

Main Hall and amazing ceiling.

There are stained glass windows on both the left and right sides of the cathedral.  Some represent biblical figures but others represent national heroes, etc.     

                                                             

Celestial skies with a moon rock in the "eye"                    

Memorial to soldiers from each state who died in the Civil War

President Woodrow Wilson's casket--the only person buried in the cathedral

To see more pictures of the stained glass windows, go to this website:  http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/209230/

There have been many international leaders and religious figures who have spoken at the Cathedral and for a short period of time, a Jewish synagogue met in the cathedral.