Library of Congress

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Library of Congress@librarycongress· 18d

In celebration of Amelia Earhart on her birthday: The Library of Congress recently used a special piece of optical imaging equipment to solve the mystery of what was contained on a tiny 78 rpm record tucked into the back of a copy of Earhart's 1932 memoir. Hear it!: blogs.loc.gov/loc/2026/04/...

Photograph showing Amelia Earhart sitting in the cockpit of an Electra airplane. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Optical imaging machine "IRENE" with the 78 rpm recording of Earhart’s speech in London after her trans-Atlantic flight. Photo: Shawn Miller.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 20d

🎨 Watercolor architectural drawings aren't as common anymore, but the Library of Congress collections contain many dating back to a time when they were, including some of the Library itself, the Biltmore Estate and even the White House.

Congressional Library. Peters, G. W., artist. 1897. Artist’s rendering of the Northwest Corridor on the first floor of the main building of the Library of Congress, the Thomas Jefferson Building. The perspective view offers a hint at the elaborate decorations, the coffered ceilings, the tile floors, and the mural art found in lunettes along the corridor.

A rendering of the Banquet Hall at Biltmore Estate, built for George Washington Vanderbilt II, Asheville, North Carolina. 1890. Hunt, Richard Morris, 1827-1895, architect.

An ink drawing filled in with watercolor of a proposed principal floor plan for the President’s House, i.e. the White House, designed by architect Benjamin H. Latrobe. The watercolor is used to great effect, creating shadows to make the floor plan feel three-dimensional, and including the landscaping to fully set the scene. 1807. Latrobe, Benjamin Henry, 1764-1820, architect.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 21d

Most modern beach vacations won’t include “land yachting,” but pictures from the Library’s Print and Photographs Division show it was a possibility at the turn of the century!

Four people in turn of the century period clothing sitting on a device with wheels and sails attached. The device is on the beach. Sailing on the beach, Ormond, Fla. 1903. Detroit Publishing Company collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Men in turn of the century period clothing riding bikes with sails attached, riding down the beach.

A person in turn of the century period clothing sitting on a device with wheels and sails attached. The device is on the beach. Sailing on the beach, Ormond, Fla. 1903. Detroit Publishing Company collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 22d

On this moon landing anniversary, a look at these two editorial cartoons from July 1969 illustrating both the public's awe and the public's criticism of the mission. Both are by Herbert Block, commonly known as Herblock. The Herbert L. Block Collection was donated to the Library of Congress in 2002.

Drawing shows a space boot being released from the world represented as as a ball and chain.

Editorial cartoon shows man watching television while sitting in lounge chair on the moon. The earth below is surrounded in smoke labeled "War", "Poverty" and "Prejudice."

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 24d

⚽ Think you know World Cup history? The first Asian team to reach the knockout stage may surprise you: North Korea. Learn more on our "4 Corners of the World" blog: https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2026/07/the-north-korean-soccer-team-at-the-1966-world-cup-in-england/

The 1966 North Korean national soccer team. Chŏllima September 1966 issue. Library of Congress Asian Division.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 25d

Getting out of town during these dog days of summer? Don’t forget to take a book along.

Poster shows father and son reading while camping by a lake. Lithographed poster is from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Artist: Magnus Norstad, 1910s.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 27d

It's road trip season. What are your favorite roadside oddities? Check for them in the Library's John Margolies Roadside America archive. It contains 11,000+ photos of vernacular architecture from across the U.S. ⬇️ https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e31fca375f7a471a9a2e2cd01f243ed4?loclr=blsky

A series of three photos from the John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive. On the left, a water tower shaped like a peach. In the center, a large statue of a man carrying bags of groceries in each arm. On the right, a T-Rex at a mini golf course.

Peach water tower, Gaffney, S.C. 1988.

Dinosaur, Wacky Golf, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1979.

Big John statue, East Fifth Street, Metropolis, Illinois. 1993.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 28d

The Library's Jefferson Building, built in the late 1800s, was the first public building in Washington constructed with electrical wiring. Some of the design elements proudly showcase bare light bulbs, a celebration of what was then a new and powerful American invention.

Bronze statues of women holding torches of electric light sit on the newel posts of the ornately designed staircases in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. Photo by Shawn Miller.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· 29d

Observing the more intimate aspects of a historical figure's life is part of the joy of researching their papers at the Library. Example: Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was a cat lady. 😻 https://blogs.loc.gov/manuscripts/2024/10/of-note-cats-in-claras-correspondence/?loclr=blsky

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 9

NOTICE: Due to forecasted storms, tonight's showing of "Clueless" will be postponed. Summer Movies on the Lawn will resume next week, weather-permitting. 🍿 July 16 - Rocky 🍿 July 23 - Back to the Future 🍿 July 30 - A League of Their Own 🍿 Aug. 6 - Apollo 13 🍿 Aug. 13 (rain date) - Clueless

Visitors flock to the north lawn for a viewing of "Shrek" during the kickoff of the Library's Summer Movies on the Lawn series. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 8

Last month, Major James Capers received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Vietnam War. Capers is known in the military community as the father of modern Marine reconnaissance. He led Team Broadminded, which conducted high-risk missions, and was the face of the “Ask a Marine” campaign. 🧵

Major James “Jim” Capers in the Great Hall at the Library of Congress.

1970 "Ask a Marine" poster shows Major James Capers Jr. in uniform.

Thirteen men lined up on the beach (eight standing in the back row, five kneeling in the front) comprise "Team Broadminded."

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 7

NEWS: The 2026 National Book Festival lineup and poster are here! We hope to see you Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.! ⬇️ newsroom.loc.gov/news/2026-li...

The 2026 National Book Festival poster features illustrations of people holding and reading books, along with the Washington Monument, the Capitol dome and the Library of Congress dome.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 5

Happy Independence Day from the Library of Congress. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

The Library of Congress Jefferson Building is patriotically lit in red, white and blue. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 4

The Library is also home to another amazing document from this period in American history: Thomas Jefferson's own draft of the Declaration of Independence, which he worked on with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib0...

Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, handwritten with things crossed out and re-written

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams meet at Jefferson's lodgings, on the corner of Seventh and High (Market) streets in Philadelphia, to review a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Ferris, Jean Leon Gerome, 1863-1930, artist.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 4

Fascinating Declaration of Independence 🇺🇸 facts: The printed copy on the right actually pre-dates the more well-known, handwritten copy on the left, which wasn't produced or signed by John Hancock and other members of the Continental Congress until weeks AFTER July 4, 1776. 🧵

The "engrossed" hand-written copy of the Declaration of Independence, which resides at the National Archives

A "Dunlap broadside" version of the Declaration of Independence, which is typeset, not handwritten

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 3

A new exhibition opens today (July 3) at the Library of Congress. “The Declaration’s Promise: A Revolutionary Idea" explores the principles of the Declaration of Independence and their impact on American history over the last 250 years. 🇺🇸

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 2

Upon closer examination under the microscope, it’s evident there is a word underneath the smudge, and the word “citizens” is judiciously written on top. Spectral imaging reveals that Jefferson first wrote “our fellow subjects."

Depiction of image processing steps taken to reveal that, in a draft of the Declaration of Independence, an instance of the word "citizens" originally said "subjects."

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 2

Ahead of Independence Day, a story brought to you by Library of Congress scientists. Throughout June 1776, Thomas Jefferson was drafting what we now know as the Declaration of Independence. As he edited, he made neat strike outs. In one instance, though, there's an obvious smudge. 🧵

Close up of the word "citizens" in a draft of the Declaration of Independence, which is visibly smudged

Illustration of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams reviewing a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, artist. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 1

Highsmith's entire photographic archive is here at the Library of Congress, and a new PBS documentary about her, “Capturing America: The Carol Highsmith Story,” is available to stream on July 4. Check your local listings to watch live, and find the Highsmith archive here: www.loc.gov/pictures/col...

Kids order sno-balls, the New Orleans, Louisiana, version of what others call sno-cone flavored ices

Presentation of the colors at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, produced by Rodeo Austin in Austin, Texas

Golden Gate Bridge, looking north toward Marin County, California

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jul 1

"For more than 40 years, Carol Highsmith wakes up every single day with one mission: to document every nook and cranny of the United States, from its majestic mountains and quirky roadside attractions to its most unforgettable characters, known and unknown." 🧵

Photographer Carol M. Highsmith in Monument Valley, the Navajo tribal park in northern Arizona and southern Utah

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 30

NEWS: A new exhibition, “The Declaration’s Promise: A Revolutionary Idea,” opens July 3 at the Library of Congress, exploring the principles of the Declaration of Independence and their impact on American history over the last 250 years. newsroom.loc.gov/news/-the-de...

"The Declaration's Promise: A Revolutionary Idea" opens for a media preview, June 30, 2026. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 26

We're celebrating America’s 250th birthday this summer, but did you know it's been more than twice that long since the first document on which the name "America" appears was published? The Library has the only surviving copy of the 1507 Waldseemüller map. Explore it. ⬇️ www.loc.gov/item/2003626...

Detail of Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map shows label "America" on a landmass. It is placed roughly were Argentina is located on modern maps. Other details on the map include an illustration of a ship, a bird and other place names along the coast of the pictured landmass.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 25

On this day in 1924, Rosalind Walter, the woman who inspired the character of Rosie the Riveter was born. These stunning photos of real "Rosies" from the U.S. Office of War Information are in the Library's Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-25?loclr=blsky

Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee. Alfred T. Palmer, photographer. Feb. 1943.

Operating a hand drill at North American Aviation, Inc., [a] woman is working in the control surface department assembling a section of the leading edge for the horizontal stabilizer of a plane, Inglewood, Calif. Alfred T. Palmer, photographer. Oct 1942.

This woman worker at the Vultee-Nashville is shown making final adjustments in the wheel well of an inner wing before the installation of the landing gear, Nashville, Tenn. This [is] one of the numerous assembly operations in connection with the mass production of Vultee "Vengeance" dive bombers. Alfred T. Palmer, photographer. Feb. 1943.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 25

NEWS: The Library of Congress recently acquired the manuscripts, papers, photographs and sound recordings of songwriter Doc Pomus, who was responsible for such hits as “This Magic Moment,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” newsroom.loc.gov/news/library...

Photo credit: Shawn Miller/Library of Congress. Items from the Doc Pomus collection held by the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 24

In addition to this topic being well-documented in the Chronicling America historical newspaper archive, many oral narratives from the Library’s National Folklife Center feature Americans discussing unusual, mysterious objects seen in the night sky! 👇 blogs.loc.gov/folklife/202...

A man in a red plaid shirt sits in a chair in his living room, telling a story. His left hand is raised, his hand demonstrating an element of his story.

(Howard Miller, telling a story about potentially seeing a UFO. Lyntha Scott Eiler, photographer. April 22, 1995. Coal River Folklife Project collection, AFC 1999/008)

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 24

Is it the anniversary of the REAL Disclosure Day? June 24, 1947 is the date pilot Kenneth Arnold first reported seeing nine unidentified shapes 🛸 speeding through the skies near Mount Rainier. It was the first widely reported UFO sighting in the U.S. and spawned the term “flying saucer.” 🧵

Article published in the Thursday, June 26, 1947 edition of the Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.) is titled "Pilot Spots Nine Objects At 10,000 Feet Flying Fast." It goes on to detail the experience of pilot Kenneth Arnold of Boise, Idaho and his experience seeing nine "bright, saucer-like objects flying at incredible speed at 10,000 feet altitude" near Mount Rainier.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 23

NEWS: The 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction will be awarded to Ann Patchett at the National Book Festival on Aug. 22! https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/ann-patchett-to-receive-2026-library-of-congress-prize-for-american-fiction/s/4cab92e9-cda0-47f4-8ee3-6b1c4efbe3e3

Ann Patchett, recipient of the 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 19

For #Juneteenth: 70+ years after the Civil War, the WPA's Federal Writers' Project began interviewing elderly Americans who remembered being enslaved. These moving narratives & photos are now held here at the Library. Narratives: www.loc.gov/collections/... Photos: www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...

Betty Simmons, Age about 100. Taken between 1936 and 1938. WPA Slave Narrative Project: Container, A932, vol. 16, part 4. Federal Writer's Project, United States Work Projects Administration (USWPA). Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.

An old African American woman in a button down dress stands in front of a chair with her hands clasped, looking at the camera. The chair is outside, positioned in front of a house. A younger woman stands on the porch behind her.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 17

On this day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in the U.S. on a boat, in pieces. The Library’s Historic American Engineering Record collection has some amazing photos of Lady Liberty from odd angles, taken in 1984 and 1985 during a major restoration project ahead of her centennial celebration.

View of forearm and hand holding torch - Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, Manhattan, New York County, NY. Photo by Jet Lowe. 1984. Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Detail of tablet with inscription "JULY IV. MDCCLXXVI" - Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, Manhattan, New York County, NY. Photo by Jet Lowe. 1984. Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Detail looking down on left foot and lights at base of statue - Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, Manhattan, New York County, NY. Photo by Jet Lowe. 1984. Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Library of Congress@librarycongress· Jun 12

There's a lot of Pride history held at the Library, including this footage of some of the first NYC pride events in 1970, from the Lilli M. Vincenz Collection. The full 12 minutes of footage and other Pride resources from the Library are linked below. 🧵