After 12 years of renovation, the glorious 1897 Thomas Jefferson Building reopened to the public on May 1 (details of the ceremonies will be published in the next LC Information Bulletin). The Library's celebration will culminate in November, when, in 1897, the original Library building threw open its doors.
Dr. Billington - Reid Baker
"Thanks to the foresight and generosity of the U.S. Congress, with the support of the American people, the Jefferson Building is once again a building as glorious as the collections it houses," said Dr. Billington. "We invite all Americans to come and share in the riches of the nation's library, the largest accumulation of knowledge ever assembled."
Visitors can see gleaming white marble; old wood that has been renewed and panels of new mahogany; brilliant gold-leaf decorations and vibrant walls and ceilings cleaned and restored to their original hues; and more than 100 century-old paintings, their true colors revealed after hundreds of hours spent to remove soot, grime and old paint. In the new reading rooms whose staffs serve materials from Africa, Asia and Europe, visitors will see mahogany bookcases between tall windows and mahogany colonnades that house staff and scholars' offices.
The total cost so far of the renovation project exceeds $100 million for the Jefferson Building and the John Adams Building (opened in 1939 and also undergoing renovation).
Congress appropriated $750,000 to restore the west exterior terrace and steps of the Jefferson Building in July 1983, and $81.5 million for structural and decorative renovation in October 1984. In 1993, Congress appropriated $7 million to replace the Jefferson Building's copper roof. It will be completed by the end of this calendar year.
In 1995, Congress authorized an additional $2.5 million to completely renovate the Jefferson's Coolidge Auditorium and Whittall Pavilion, which will open in October and be finished in 1998. To date, the Library's Facility Services has spent an additional $10 million on carpets, furnishings and equipment.
Visiting the Jefferson Building
Visitors should enter on the lower level of the west side of the building (First Street S.E.), where docents at the new Visitors' Center will provide handouts with a map and a description of open areas.
Also available is a new 12-minute film (open-captioned), produced with the support of the James Madison Council, the Library's private sector support group. The film, narrated by council member James Earl Jones, offers a comprehensive overview of the workings of the world's largest library.
After viewing the film, visitors can explore the Great Hall and, most important, see the unique new "American Treasures" exhibition in the Southwest Gallery and Pavilion on the second floor.
The Visitors' Center is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Jefferson Building and the "American Treasures" exhibition are barrier-free and accessible.
Those who wish to take guided tours of the building, accompanied by a docent, may do so Monday through Saturday, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 p.m.
